Drachman DA, Hart CW.
An approach to the dizzy patient.
Neurology. 1972 Apr;22(4):323-34. doi: 10.1212/wnl.22.4.323.
Abstract/Text
Kroenke K, Lucas CA, Rosenberg ML, Scherokman B, Herbers JE Jr, Wehrle PA, Boggi JO.
Causes of persistent dizziness. A prospective study of 100 patients in ambulatory care.
Ann Intern Med. 1992 Dec 1;117(11):898-904. doi: 10.7326/0003-4819-117-11-898.
Abstract/Text
OBJECTIVE: To determine the causes of persistent dizziness in outpatients.
DESIGN: Consecutive adult outpatients presenting with a chief complaint of dizziness.
SETTING: Four clinics (internal medicine, walk-in, emergency room, and neurology) in a teaching hospital.
PATIENTS: Of 185 patients presenting during the 10-month study period, 51 (28%) had minimal or no dizziness at 2-week follow-up. Of the remaining 134 patients, 100 completed the study protocol (mean age, 62 years; range, 20 to 85 years).
MEASUREMENTS: Evaluation included a detailed study questionnaire, standardized physical examination, vestibular testing by a neuro-ophthalmologist, laboratory tests, audiometry, and a structured psychiatric interview. Data were abstracted onto a standard form and reviewed by three raters. Raters independently assigned diagnoses using explicit criteria, with the final cause determined by consensus.
RESULTS: Primary causes of dizziness included vestibular disorders (54 patients), psychiatric disorders (16 patients), presyncope (6 patients), dysequilibrium (2 patients), and hyperventilation (1 patient); dizziness was multicausal in 13 patients and of unknown cause in 8 patients. Many of those with a single primary cause, however, had at least one other condition contributing to their dizziness; only 52% of patients had a single "pure" cause. Thirty patients had a potentially treatable primary cause, the most common being benign positional vertigo (BPV) (16%) and psychiatric disorders (6%). Central vestibulopathies detected in 10 patients were presumably vascular or idiopathic in origin. No brain tumors or cardiac arrhythmias were found.
CONCLUSIONS: Vestibular disease and psychiatric disorders are the most common causes of persistent dizziness in outpatients. In about 50% of patients with dizziness, more than one factor causes or aggravates symptoms. Life-threatening causes were rare, even in our elderly population.
Nedzelski JM, Barber HO, McIlmoyl L.
Diagnoses in a dizziness unit.
J Otolaryngol. 1986 Apr;15(2):101-4.
Abstract/Text
Data are given on 2,515 patients who attended the Dizziness Unit on 3,113 visits. The sex incidence was 58% female, 42% male, and the sex preference most marked in the psychogenic group from ages 20 to 50. Dizziness is mainly a condition of middle-age; with a steadily aging population we can expect a disproportionate increase in patients with dizziness. Psychogenic dizziness was the commonest of all diagnoses (21.1%), followed closely by "undiagnosed"; together, these two comprised 40% of all diagnoses. Obviously, they deserve more clinical attention than such relatively rare conditions as delayed endolymphatic hydrops (0.5%) or inner ear fistula (0.4%). For all diagnostic categories, on repeated visits the original diagnosis was changed in about one-third of cases. Diagnostic conversion was most frequent in "undiagnosed", at a level of 58%.
Herr RD, Zun L, Mathews JJ.
A directed approach to the dizzy patient.
Ann Emerg Med. 1989 Jun;18(6):664-72. doi: 10.1016/s0196-0644(89)80524-4.
Abstract/Text
We initiated a prospective study of the dizzy patient to identify key factors on which a directed evaluation could be based. This study used a standardized history, physical examination, and basic laboratory evaluation totalling 66 items to assist collection of relevant clinical information on 125 patients. Diagnosis was based on the emergency physicians' diagnosis. This was modified when necessary based on one month of follow-up using diagnostic criteria adapted from previous studies. The most common disorder was some form of peripheral vestibular disorder, found in 54 patients (43%). These patients were typically vertiginous and were managed successfully as outpatients. Despite correlations with multiple factors, this diagnosis was best predicted by positive Nylen-Barany test with either vertigo, vomiting, or both with 94% specificity and 43% sensitivity. Potentially serious causes were identified, including medication-related, seizure, stroke, transient ischemic attacks, vertebral-basilar insufficiency, hypertension, pericarditis, arrhythmias, and all those requiring hospitalization. The best predictors, either older age, lack of vertigo, or neurologic deficit, could identify 86% of "serious" dizziness with 42% specificity. The following tests were of low yield and may be done in a directed manner based on a brief history: Valsalva, carotid stimulation, Romberg and Quix tests, mental status examination, complete blood count, serum electrolytes, and BUN. Our results do support routine testing of glucose in all patients and monitoring rhythm in patients age 45 and older. Such a directed approach could rapidly classify a significant number of dizzy patients and forego many time- and cost-intensive elements of provocative examination and laboratory testing.
Comolli L, Korda A, Zamaro E, Wagner F, Sauter TC, Caversaccio MD, Nikles F, Jung S, Mantokoudis G.
Vestibular syndromes, diagnosis and diagnostic errors in patients with dizziness presenting to the emergency department: a cross-sectional study.
BMJ Open. 2023 Mar 24;13(3):e064057. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2022-064057. Epub 2023 Mar 24.
Abstract/Text
OBJECTIVES: We aimed to determine the frequency of vestibular syndromes, diagnoses, diagnostic errors and resources used in patients with dizziness in the emergency department (ED).
DESIGN: Retrospective cross-sectional study.
SETTING: Tertiary referral hospital.
PARTICIPANTS: Adult patients presenting with dizziness.
PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES: We collected clinical data from the initial ED report from July 2015 to August 2020 and compared them with the follow-up report if available. We calculated the prevalence of vestibular syndromes and stroke prevalence in patients with dizziness. Vestibular syndromes are differentiated in acute (AVS) (eg, stroke, vestibular neuritis), episodic (EVS) (eg, benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, transient ischaemic attack) and chronic (CVS) (eg, persistent postural-perceptual dizziness) vestibular syndrome. We reported the rate of diagnostic errors using the follow-up diagnosis as the reference standard.
RESULTS: We included 1535 patients with dizziness. 19.7% (303) of the patients presented with AVS, 34.7% (533) with EVS, 4.6% (71) with CVS and 40.9% (628) with no or unclassifiable vestibular syndrome. The three most frequent diagnoses were stroke/minor stroke (10.1%, 155), benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (9.8%, 150) and vestibular neuritis (9.6%, 148). Among patients with AVS, 25.4% (77) had stroke. The cause of the dizziness remained unknown in 45.0% (692) and 18.0% received a false diagnosis. There was a follow-up in 662 cases (43.1%) and 58.2% with an initially unknown diagnoses received a final diagnosis. Overall, 69.9% of all 1535 patients with dizziness received neuroimaging (MRI 58.2%, CT 11.6%) in the ED.
CONCLUSIONS: One-fourth of patients with dizziness in the ED presented with AVS with a high prevalence (10%) of vestibular strokes. EVS was more frequent; however, the rate of undiagnosed patients with dizziness and the number of patients receiving neuroimaging were high. Almost half of them still remained without diagnosis and among those diagnosed were often misclassified. Many unclear cases of vertigo could be diagnostically clarified after a follow-up visit.
© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2023. Re-use permitted under CC BY. Published by BMJ.
Edlow JA, Carpenter C, Akhter M, Khoujah D, Marcolini E, Meurer WJ, Morrill D, Naples JG, Ohle R, Omron R, Sharif S, Siket M, Upadhye S, E Silva LOJ, Sundberg E, Tartt K, Vanni S, Newman-Toker DE, Bellolio F.
Guidelines for reasonable and appropriate care in the emergency department 3 (GRACE-3): Acute dizziness and vertigo in the emergency department.
Acad Emerg Med. 2023 May;30(5):442-486. doi: 10.1111/acem.14728.
Abstract/Text
This third Guideline for Reasonable and Appropriate Care in the Emergency Department (GRACE-3) from the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine is on the topic adult patients with acute dizziness and vertigo in the emergency department (ED). A multidisciplinary guideline panel applied the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) approach to assess the certainty of evidence and strength of recommendations regarding five questions for adult ED patients with acute dizziness of less than 2 weeks' duration. The intended population is adults presenting to the ED with acute dizziness or vertigo. The panel derived 15 evidence-based recommendations based on the timing and triggers of the dizziness but recognizes that alternative diagnostic approaches exist, such as the STANDING protocol and nystagmus examination in combination with gait unsteadiness or the presence of vascular risk factors. As an overarching recommendation, (1) emergency clinicians should receive training in bedside physical examination techniques for patients with the acute vestibular syndrome (AVS; HINTS) and the diagnostic and therapeutic maneuvers for benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV; Dix-Hallpike test and Epley maneuver). To help distinguish central from peripheral causes in patients with the AVS, we recommend: (2) use HINTS (for clinicians trained in its use) in patients with nystagmus, (3) use finger rub to further aid in excluding stroke in patients with nystagmus, (4) use severity of gait unsteadiness in patients without nystagmus, (5) do not use brain computed tomography (CT), (6) do not use routine magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as a first-line test if a clinician trained in HINTS is available, and (7) use MRI as a confirmatory test in patients with central or equivocal HINTS examinations. In patients with the spontaneous episodic vestibular syndrome: (8) search for symptoms or signs of cerebral ischemia, (9) do not use CT, and (10) use CT angiography or MRI angiography if there is concern for transient ischemic attack. In patients with the triggered (positional) episodic vestibular syndrome, (11) use the Dix-Hallpike test to diagnose posterior canal BPPV (pc-BPPV), (12) do not use CT, and (13) do not use MRI routinely, unless atypical clinical features are present. In patients diagnosed with vestibular neuritis, (14) consider short-term steroids as a treatment option. In patients diagnosed with pc-BPPV, (15) treat with the Epley maneuver. It is clear that as of 2023, when applied in routine practice by emergency clinicians without special training, HINTS testing is inaccurate, partly due to use in the wrong patients and partly due to issues with its interpretation. Most emergency physicians have not received training in use of HINTS. As such, it is not standard of care, either in the legal sense of that term ("what the average physician would do in similar circumstances") or in the common parlance sense ("the standard action typically used by physicians in routine practice").
© 2023 Society for Academic Emergency Medicine.
Savitz SI, Caplan LR, Edlow JA.
Pitfalls in the diagnosis of cerebellar infarction.
Acad Emerg Med. 2007 Jan;14(1):63-8. doi: 10.1197/j.aem.2006.06.060.
Abstract/Text
BACKGROUND: Cerebellar infarctions are an important cause of neurologic disease. Failure to recognize and rapidly diagnose cerebellar infarction may lead to serious morbidity and mortality due to hydrocephalus and brain stem infarction.
OBJECTIVES: To identify sources of preventable medical errors, the authors obtained pilot data on cerebellar ischemic strokes that were initially misdiagnosed in the emergency department.
METHODS: Fifteen cases of misdiagnosed cerebellar infarctions were collected, all seen, or reviewed by the authors during a five-year period. For each patient, they report the presenting symptoms, the findings on neurologic examination performed in the emergency department, specific areas of the examination not performed or documented, diagnostic testing, the follow-up course after misdiagnosis, and outcome. The different types of errors leading to misdiagnosis are categorized.
RESULTS: Half of the patients were younger than 50 years and presented with headache and dizziness. All patients had either incomplete or poorly documented neurologic examinations. Almost all patients had a computed tomographic scan of the head interpreted as normal, and most of these patients underwent subsequent magnetic resonance imaging showing cerebellar infarction. The initial incorrect diagnoses included migraine, toxic encephalopathy, gastritis, meningitis, myocardial infarction, and polyneuropathy. The overall mortality in this patient cohort was 40%. Among the survivors, about 50% had disabling deficits. Pitfalls leading to misdiagnosis involved the clinical evaluation, diagnostic testing, and establishing a diagnosis and disposition.
CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates how the diagnosis of cerebellar infarction can be missed or delayed in patients presenting to the emergency department.
Gurley KL, Edlow JA.
Acute Dizziness.
Semin Neurol. 2019 Feb;39(1):27-40. doi: 10.1055/s-0038-1676857. Epub 2019 Feb 11.
Abstract/Text
Dizziness is a common chief complaint with an extensive differential diagnosis that includes both benign and serious conditions. Physicians must distinguish the majority of patients who suffer from self-limiting conditions from those with serious illnesses that require acute treatment. The preferred approach to the diagnosis of an acutely dizzy patient emphasizes different aspects of the history to guide a focused physical examination, with the goal of differentiating benign peripheral vestibular conditions from dangerous posterior circulation strokes. Currently, misdiagnoses are frequent and diagnostic testing costs are high. This partly relates to use of an outdated diagnostic paradigm. This commonly used traditional approach relies on dizziness "symptom quality" or "type" (vertigo, presyncope, disequilibrium) to guide inquiry. It does not distinguish benign from dangerous causes and is inconsistent with current best evidence. A better approach categorizes patients into three groups based on timing and triggers. Each category has its own differential diagnosis and targeted bedside approach: (1) acute vestibular syndrome, where bedside physical examination differentiates vestibular neuritis from stroke; (2) spontaneous episodic vestibular syndrome, where associated symptoms help differentiate vestibular migraine from transient ischemic attack; and (3) triggered episodic vestibular syndrome, where the Dix-Hallpike and supine roll test help differentiate benign paroxysmal positional vertigo from posterior fossa structural lesions. The "timing and triggers" diagnostic approach for the acutely dizzy derives from current best evidence and offers the potential to reduce misdiagnosis while simultaneously decreasing diagnostic test overuse, unnecessary hospitalization, and incorrect treatments.
Thieme Medical Publishers 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA.
Edlow JA.
The timing-and-triggers approach to the patient with acute dizziness.
Emerg Med Pract. 2019 Dec;21(12):1-24. Epub 2019 Dec 1.
Abstract/Text
Acute dizziness is a common presentation in the emergency department. Due to newer research, the diagnostic approach to dizziness has changed, now focusing on its timing and triggers of instead of the patient's symptom quality (vertigo versus lightheadedness). Each timing-and-triggers category has its own differential diagnosis and diagnostic approach, which will aid emergency clinicians in distinguishing benign causes of dizziness from life-threatening causes. Brain imaging, even with magnetic resonance imaging, has important limitations in ruling out stroke presenting with dizziness. Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo can be treated with repositioning maneuvers at the bedside, offering cost-effective management options.
Kerber KA, Newman-Toker DE.
Misdiagnosing Dizzy Patients: Common Pitfalls in Clinical Practice.
Neurol Clin. 2015 Aug;33(3):565-75, viii. doi: 10.1016/j.ncl.2015.04.009.
Abstract/Text
This article highlights 5 pitfalls in the diagnosis of common vestibular disorders: (1) overreliance on dizziness symptom type to drive diagnostic inquiry; (2) underuse and misuse of timing and triggers to categorize patients; (3) underuse, misuse, and misconceptions linked to hallmark eye examination findings; (4) overweighting age, vascular risk factors, and neuroexamination to screen for stroke; and (5) overuse and overreliance on head computed tomography to rule out neurologic causes. This article discusses the evidence base describing each pitfall's frequency and likely causes, and potential alternative strategies that might be used to improve diagnostic accuracy or mitigate harms.
Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Kerber KA, Callaghan BC, Telian SA, Meurer WJ, Skolarus LE, Carender W, Burke JF.
Dizziness Symptom Type Prevalence and Overlap: A US Nationally Representative Survey.
Am J Med. 2017 Dec;130(12):1465.e1-1465.e9. doi: 10.1016/j.amjmed.2017.05.048. Epub 2017 Jul 21.
Abstract/Text
BACKGROUND: The traditional approach to dizziness encourages providers to emphasize the type of dizziness. However, symptom types might substantially overlap in individual patients, thus limiting the clinical value of this approach. We aimed to describe the overlap of types of dizziness using a US nationally representative sample.
METHODS: The 2008 US National Health Interview Survey was examined for prevalence and overlap of types of dizziness. The data were also separately examined among people who otherwise had typical features of traditionally vertigo-based disorders (ie, benign paroxysmal positional vertigo and Meniere's disease). Data analysis also included exploratory factor analysis.
RESULTS: Twelve-month prevalence of problems with dizziness or balance was 14.8%, representing 33.4 million individuals. The mean number of dizziness symptoms was 2.4 (95% confidence interval [CI], 2.3-2.4), with 61.1% reporting more than one type. Of subjects who otherwise had typical features of traditionally vertigo-based disorders, the mean number of dizziness types was 3.1 (95% CI, 3.0-3.3), and only 24.6% (95% CI, 21.0%-28.7%) reported vertigo as the primary type. Exploratory factor analysis found that symptom types loaded onto a single factor without other clinical or demographic variables.
CONCLUSIONS: Substantial overlap of dizziness types exists among US adults with dizziness. People otherwise having features of traditionally vertigo-based disorders also typically report multiple dizziness types and do not typically report vertigo as the primary type. Symptom types correlate more strongly with each other than with other clinical or demographic variables. These findings suggest that the traditional emphasis on dizziness types is likely of limited clinical utility.
Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Newman-Toker DE, Cannon LM, Stofferahn ME, Rothman RE, Hsieh YH, Zee DS.
Imprecision in patient reports of dizziness symptom quality: a cross-sectional study conducted in an acute care setting.
Mayo Clin Proc. 2007 Nov;82(11):1329-40. doi: 10.4065/82.11.1329.
Abstract/Text
OBJECTIVE: To quantify precision in patient reports of different attributes of dizziness.
PATIENTS AND METHODS: In a cross-sectional study, we interviewed consecutive adult patients with dizziness at 2 urban academic emergency departments (EDs) from July 2, 2005, to August 26, 2005. We excluded patients who were too sick for an interview or who posed a risk to the interviewer. We included those who were "dizzy, light-headed, or off-balance" for 7 days or less or previously "bothered" by the same conditions. We assessed descriptions of dizziness quality elicited by 4 questions in different formats (open-ended, multiresponse, single-choice, and directed). Clarity was assessed qualitatively (vague, circular) and quantitatively (overlap of types of dizziness). Consistency was measured by frequency of mismatched responses across question formats. Reliability was determined by test-retest.
RESULTS: Of 1,342 patients screened, 872 (65%) were dizzy, light-headed, or off-balance in the past 7 days (n=677) or previously bothered by dizziness (n=195). Among these 872 patients with dizziness, 44% considered dizziness "the main reason" or "part of the reason" for the ED visit. Open-ended descriptions were frequently vague or circular. A total of 62% selected more than 1 dizziness type on the multiresponse question. On the same question, 54% did not pick 1 or more types endorsed previously in open description. Of 218 patients not identifying vertigo, spinning, or motion on the first 3 questions, 70% confirmed "spinning or motion" on directed questioning. Asked to choose the single best descriptor, 52% picked a different response on retest approximately 6 minutes later. By comparison, reports of dizziness duration and triggers were clear, consistent, and reliable.
CONCLUSION: Descriptions of the quality of dizziness are unclear, inconsistent, and unreliable, casting doubt on the validity of the traditional approach to the patient with dizziness. Alternative approaches, emphasizing timing and triggers over type, should be investigated.
Edlow JA.
Diagnosing dizziness: we are teaching the wrong paradigm!
Acad Emerg Med. 2013 Oct;20(10):1064-6. doi: 10.1111/acem.12234.
Abstract/Text
Edlow JA, Gurley KL, Newman-Toker DE.
A New Diagnostic Approach to the Adult Patient with Acute Dizziness.
J Emerg Med. 2018 Apr;54(4):469-483. doi: 10.1016/j.jemermed.2017.12.024. Epub 2018 Feb 1.
Abstract/Text
BACKGROUND: Dizziness, a common chief complaint, has an extensive differential diagnosis that includes both benign and serious conditions. Emergency physicians must distinguish the majority of patients with self-limiting conditions from those with serious illnesses that require acute treatment.
OBJECTIVE OF THE REVIEW: This article presents a new approach to diagnosis of the acutely dizzy patient that emphasizes different aspects of the history to guide a focused physical examination with the goal of differentiating benign peripheral vestibular conditions from dangerous posterior circulation strokes in the emergency department.
DISCUSSION: Currently, misdiagnoses are frequent and diagnostic testing costs are high. This relates in part to use of an outdated, prevalent, diagnostic paradigm. The traditional approach, which relies on dizziness symptom quality or type (i.e., vertigo, presyncope, or disequilibrium) to guide inquiry, does not distinguish benign from dangerous causes, and is inconsistent with current best evidence. A new approach divides patients into three key categories using timing and triggers, guiding a differential diagnosis and targeted bedside examination protocol: 1) acute vestibular syndrome, where bedside physical examination differentiates vestibular neuritis from stroke; 2) spontaneous episodic vestibular syndrome, where associated symptoms help differentiate vestibular migraine from transient ischemic attack; and 3) triggered episodic vestibular syndrome, where the Dix-Hallpike and supine roll test help differentiate benign paroxysmal positional vertigo from posterior fossa structural lesions.
CONCLUSIONS: The timing and triggers diagnostic approach for the acutely dizzy patient derives from current best evidence and offers the potential to reduce misdiagnosis while simultaneously decreases diagnostic test overuse, unnecessary hospitalization, and incorrect treatments.
Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Edlow JA, Newman-Toker D.
Using the Physical Examination to Diagnose Patients with Acute Dizziness and Vertigo.
J Emerg Med. 2016 Apr;50(4):617-28. doi: 10.1016/j.jemermed.2015.10.040. Epub 2016 Feb 16.
Abstract/Text
BACKGROUND: Emergency department (ED) patients who present with acute dizziness or vertigo can be challenging to diagnose. Roughly half have general medical disorders that are usually apparent from the context, associated symptoms, or initial laboratory tests. The rest include a mix of common inner ear disorders and uncommon neurologic ones, particularly vertebrobasilar strokes or posterior fossa mass lesions. In these latter cases, misdiagnosis can lead to serious adverse consequences for patients.
OBJECTIVE: Our aim was to assist emergency physicians to use the physical examination effectively to make a specific diagnosis in patients with acute dizziness or vertigo.
DISCUSSION: Recent evidence indicates that the physical examination can help physicians accurately discriminate between benign inner ear conditions and dangerous central ones, enabling correct management of peripheral vestibular disease and avoiding dangerous misdiagnoses of central ones. Patients with the acute vestibular syndrome mostly have vestibular neuritis, but some have stroke. Data suggest that focused eye movement examinations, at least when performed by specialists, are more sensitive for detecting early stroke than brain imaging, including diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging. Patients with the triggered episodic vestibular syndrome mostly have benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV), but some have posterior fossa mass lesions. Specific positional tests to provoke nystagmus can confirm a BPPV diagnosis at the bedside, enabling immediate curative therapy, or indicate the need for imaging.
CONCLUSIONS: Emergency physicians can effectively use the physical examination to make a specific diagnosis in patients with acute dizziness or vertigo. They must understand the limitations of brain imaging. This may reduce misdiagnosis of serious central causes of dizziness, including posterior circulation stroke and posterior fossa mass lesions, and improve resource utilization.
Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Newman-Toker DE.
Charted records of dizzy patients suggest emergency physicians emphasize symptom quality in diagnostic assessment.
Ann Emerg Med. 2007 Aug;50(2):204-5. doi: 10.1016/j.annemergmed.2007.03.037.
Abstract/Text
Newman-Toker DE, Camargo CA Jr, Hsieh YH, Pelletier AJ, Edlow JA.
Disconnect between charted vestibular diagnoses and emergency department management decisions: a cross-sectional analysis from a nationally representative sample.
Acad Emerg Med. 2009 Oct;16(10):970-7. doi: 10.1111/j.1553-2712.2009.00523.x.
Abstract/Text
OBJECTIVES: The most common vestibular disorders seen in the emergency department (ED) are benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) and acute peripheral vestibulopathy (APV; i.e., vestibular neuritis or labyrinthitis). BPPV and APV are two very distinct disorders that have different clinical presentations that require different diagnostic and treatment strategies. BPPV can be diagnosed without imaging and is treated with canalith-repositioning maneuvers. APV sometimes requires neuroimaging by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to exclude posterior fossa stroke mimics and should be treated with vestibular sedatives and corticosteroids. We sought to determine if emergency physicians (EPs) apply best practices to diagnose and treat these common vestibular disorders.
METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study of ED visits from the National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NHAMCS). A weighted sample of U.S. ED visits (1993-2005) was used. Patients at least 16 years of age who were given a final ED diagnosis of BPPV (International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision [ICD-9], 386.11) or APV (ICD-9 386.12 or 386.3x) comprised the study population. The frequency of imaging and drug therapy in those diagnosed as BPPV or APV versus controls was the main outcome measure.
RESULTS: A total of 9,472 dizzy patient visits were sampled over 13 years (weighted estimate 33.6 million U.S. ED visits over that period). A weighted estimate of 2.5 million patients (7.4%) were given a vestibular diagnosis, mostly BPPV (weighted 0.2 million) or APV (weighted 1.9 million). Patients given BPPV (19%) and APV (19%) diagnoses were more likely to undergo imaging (all by computed tomography [CT]) than controls (7%; p < 0.001). Patients given BPPV (58%) and APV (70%) diagnoses were more likely to receive meclizine than controls (0.1%; p < 0.001). Corticosteroid administration was rarely documented (2% BPPV, 1% APV).
CONCLUSIONS: Patients given a vestibular diagnosis in the ED may not be managed optimally. Patients given BPPV and APV diagnoses undergo imaging (predominantly CT) with equal frequency, suggesting overuse of CT (BPPV) and probably underuse of MRI (APV). Most patients diagnosed with BPPV are given meclizine, which is not indicated. Specific therapy for APV (corticosteroids) is probably underutilized. Educational initiatives and clinical guidelines merit consideration.
Bisdorff AR, Staab JP, Newman-Toker DE.
Overview of the International Classification of Vestibular Disorders.
Neurol Clin. 2015 Aug;33(3):541-50, vii. doi: 10.1016/j.ncl.2015.04.010.
Abstract/Text
Classifications and definitions are essential to facilitate communication; promote accurate diagnostic criteria; develop, test, and use effective therapies; and specify knowledge gaps. This article describes the development of the International Classification of Vestibular Disorders (ICVD) initiative. It describes its history, scope, and goals. The Bárány Society has played a central role in organizing the ICVD by establishing internal development processes and outreach to other scientific societies. The ICVD is organized in four layers. The current focus is on disorders with a high epidemiologic importance, such as Menière disease, benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, vestibular migraine, and behavioral aspects of vestibular disorders.
Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Almufarrij I, Munro KJ.
One year on: an updated systematic review of SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19 and audio-vestibular symptoms.
Int J Audiol. 2021 Dec;60(12):935-945. doi: 10.1080/14992027.2021.1896793. Epub 2021 Mar 22.
Abstract/Text
OBJECTIVE: The aim was to systematically review the literature to December 2020, in order to provide a timely summary of evidence on SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19 and audio-vestibular symptoms.
DESIGN: The protocol was registered in the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews. The methods were developed in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses guidelines. Risk of bias was assessed using the National Institutes of Heath quality assessment tools.
STUDY SAMPLE: After rejecting 850 records, 28 case reports/series and 28 cross-sectional studies met the inclusion criteria.
RESULTS: There are multiple reports of hearing loss (e.g. sudden sensorineural), tinnitus and rotatory vertigo in adults having a wide range of COVID-19 symptom severity. The pooled estimate of prevalence based primarily on retrospective recall of symptoms, was 7.6% (CI: 2.5-15.1), 14.8% (CI: 6.3-26.1) and 7.2% (CI: 0.01-26.4), for hearing loss, tinnitus and rotatory vertigo, respectively. However, these could be an over-estimate because it was not always clear that studies report a change in symptom.
CONCLUSION: There are multiple reports of audio-vestibular symptoms associated with COVID-19. However, there is a dearth of high-quality studies comparing COVID-19 cases and controls.
REVIEW REGISTRATION: Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO); registration number CRD42020227038).
Rogers TS, Noel MA, Garcia B.
Dizziness: Evaluation and Management.
Am Fam Physician. 2023 May;107(5):514-523.
Abstract/Text
Dizziness is a common but often diagnostically difficult condition. Clinicians should focus on the timing of the events and triggers of dizziness to develop a differential diagnosis because it is difficult for patients to provide quality reports of their symptoms. The differential diagnosis is broad and includes peripheral and central causes. Peripheral etiologies can cause significant morbidity but are generally less concerning, whereas central etiologies are more urgent. The physical examination may include orthostatic blood pressure measurement, a full cardiac and neurologic examination, assessment for nystagmus, the Dix-Hallpike maneuver (for patients with triggered dizziness), and the HINTS (head-impulse, nystagmus, test of skew) examination when indicated. Laboratory testing and imaging are usually not required but can be helpful. The treatment for dizziness is dependent on the etiology of the symptoms. Canalith repositioning procedures (e.g., Epley maneuver) are the most helpful in treating benign paroxysmal positional vertigo. Vestibular rehabilitation is helpful in treating many peripheral and central etiologies. Other etiologies of dizziness require specific treatment to address the cause. Pharmacologic intervention is limited because it often affects the ability of the central nervous system to compensate for dizziness.
Altissimi G, Colizza A, Cianfrone G, de Vincentiis M, Greco A, Taurone S, Musacchio A, Ciofalo A, Turchetta R, Angeletti D, Ralli M.
Drugs inducing hearing loss, tinnitus, dizziness and vertigo: an updated guide.
Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci. 2020 Aug;24(15):7946-7952. doi: 10.26355/eurrev_202008_22477.
Abstract/Text
OBJECTIVE: The awareness of audio-vestibular side effects of drugs, such as hearing loss, tinnitus, dizziness and vertigo, has widely increased in the recent years. The present guide represents an update of the previous documents published by the authors in 2005 and 2011 on drug-induced ototoxicity and vestibulotoxicity.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: The authors performed a comprehensive analysis of audio-vestibular side effects of commercially available drugs based on the British National Formulary, a pharmaceutical reference book that contains a wide range of useful information and advice on prescription and pharmacology.
RESULTS: Commercially available drugs and their active principles have been classified based on their audio-vestibular side effects, as reported by the pharmaceutical companies and/or health agencies. Drugs have been categorized based on the field of application, the therapeutic indication and the pharmacological properties.
CONCLUSIONS: General practitioners, otolaryngology, neurology and audiology specialists should be aware of possible audio-vestibular side effects of drugs, such as hearing loss, tinnitus, dizziness and vertigo. The present guide represents a practical tool to rapidly identify potential audio-vestibular side effects of drugs as reported by the pharmaceutical companies and/or health agencies.
Tarnutzer AA, Berkowitz AL, Robinson KA, Hsieh YH, Newman-Toker DE.
Does my dizzy patient have a stroke? A systematic review of bedside diagnosis in acute vestibular syndrome.
CMAJ. 2011 Jun 14;183(9):E571-92. doi: 10.1503/cmaj.100174. Epub 2011 May 16.
Abstract/Text
Edlow BL, Hurwitz S, Edlow JA.
Diagnosis of DWI-negative acute ischemic stroke: A meta-analysis.
Neurology. 2017 Jul 18;89(3):256-262. doi: 10.1212/WNL.0000000000004120. Epub 2017 Jun 14.
Abstract/Text
OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI)-negative acute ischemic stroke (AIS) and to identify clinical characteristics of patients with DWI-negative AIS.
METHODS: We systematically searched PubMed and Ovid/MEDLINE for relevant studies between 1992, the year that the DWI sequence entered clinical practice, and 2016. Studies were included based upon enrollment of consecutive patients presenting with a clinical diagnosis of AIS prior to imaging. Meta-analysis was performed to synthesize study-level data, estimate DWI-negative stroke prevalence, and estimate the odds ratios (ORs) for clinical characteristics associated with DWI-negative stroke.
RESULTS: Twelve articles including 3,236 AIS patients were included. The meta-analytic synthesis yielded a pooled prevalence of DWI-negative AIS of 6.8%, 95% confidence interval (CI) 4.9-9.3. In the 5 studies that reported proportion data for DWI-negative and DWI-positive AIS based on the ischemic vascular territory (n = 1,023 AIS patients), DWI-negative stroke was strongly associated with posterior circulation ischemia, as determined by clinical diagnosis at hospital discharge or repeat imaging (OR 5.1, 95% CI 2.3-11.6, p < 0.001).
CONCLUSIONS: A small but significant percentage of patients with AIS have a negative DWI scan. Patients with neurologic deficits consistent with posterior circulation ischemia have 5 times the odds of having a negative DWI scan compared to patients with anterior circulation ischemia. AIS remains a clinical diagnosis and urgent reperfusion therapy should be considered even when an initial DWI scan is negative.
© 2017 American Academy of Neurology.
Adolfo Bronstein, Thomas Lempert. Dizziness: A Practical Approach to Diagnosis and Management. Second Edition. 2017 Cambridge University Press.
Shah VP, Oliveira J E Silva L, Farah W, Seisa MO, Balla AK, Christensen A, Farah M, Hasan B, Bellolio F, Murad MH.
Diagnostic accuracy of the physical examination in emergency department patients with acute vertigo or dizziness: A systematic review and meta-analysis for GRACE-3.
Acad Emerg Med. 2023 May;30(5):552-578. doi: 10.1111/acem.14630. Epub 2023 Jan 22.
Abstract/Text
BACKGROUND: History and physical examination are key features to narrow the differential diagnosis of central versus peripheral causes in patients presenting with acute vertigo. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of the diagnostic test accuracy of physical examination findings.
METHODS: This study involved a patient-intervention-control-outcome (PICO) question: (P) adult ED patients with vertigo/dizziness; (I) presence/absence of specific physical examination findings; and (O) central (ischemic stroke, hemorrhage, others) versus peripheral etiology. Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluations (GRADE) was assessed.
RESULTS: From 6309 titles, 460 articles were retrieved, and 43 met the inclusion criteria: general neurologic examination-five studies, 869 patients, pooled sensitivity 46.8% (95% confidence interval [CI] 32.3%-61.9%, moderate certainty) and specificity 92.8% (95% CI 75.7%-98.1%, low certainty); limb weakness/hemiparesis-four studies, 893 patients, sensitivity 11.4% (95% CI 5.1%-23.6%, high) and specificity 98.5% (95% CI 97.1%-99.2%, high); truncal/gait ataxia-10 studies, 1810 patients (increasing severity of truncal ataxia had an increasing sensitivity for central etiology, sensitivity 69.7% [43.3%-87.9%, low] and specificity 83.7% [95% CI 52.1%-96.0%, low]); dysmetria signs-four studies, 1135 patients, sensitivity 24.6% (95% CI 15.6%-36.5%, high) and specificity 97.8% (94.4%-99.2%, high); head impulse test (HIT)-17 studies, 1366 patients, sensitivity 76.8% (64.4%-85.8%, low) and specificity 89.1% (95% CI 75.8%-95.6%, moderate); spontaneous nystagmus-six studies, 621 patients, sensitivity 52.3% (29.8%-74.0%, moderate) and specificity 42.0% (95% CI 15.5%-74.1%, moderate); nystagmus type-16 studies, 1366 patients (bidirectional, vertical, direction changing, or pure torsional nystagmus are consistent with a central cause of vertigo, sensitivity 50.7% [95% CI 41.1%-60.2%, moderate] and specificity 98.5% [95% CI 91.7%-99.7%, moderate]); test of skew-15 studies, 1150 patients (skew deviation is abnormal and consistent with central etiology, sensitivity was 23.7% [95% CI 15%-35.4%, moderate] and specificity 97.6% [95% CI 96%-98.6%, moderate]); HINTS (head impulse, nystagmus, test of skew)-14 studies, 1781 patients, sensitivity 92.9% (95% CI 79.1%-97.9%, high) and specificity 83.4% (95% CI 69.6%-91.7%, moderate); and HINTS+ (HINTS with hearing component)-five studies, 342 patients, sensitivity 99.0% (95% CI 73.6%-100%, high) and specificity 84.8% (95% CI 70.1%-93.0%, high).
CONCLUSIONS: Most neurologic examination findings have low sensitivity and high specificity for a central cause in patients with acute vertigo or dizziness. In acute vestibular syndrome (monophasic, continuous, persistent dizziness), HINTS and HINTS+ have high sensitivity when performed by trained clinicians.
© 2022 Society for Academic Emergency Medicine.
Nishida K, Usami T, Matsumoto N, Nishikimi M, Takahashi K, Matsui S.
The finger-to-nose test improved diagnosis of cerebrovascular events in patients presenting with isolated dizziness in the emergency department.
Nagoya J Med Sci. 2022 Aug;84(3):621-629. doi: 10.18999/nagjms.84.3.621.
Abstract/Text
It is difficult to identify patients with isolated dizziness caused by cerebrovascular events. The estimated risk of cerebrovascular events in isolated dizziness patients is not completely understood. We aimed to evaluate the association of the finger-to-nose test (FNT) in diagnosing cerebrovascular events in isolated dizziness patients in emergency departments (EDs). We combined 2 datasets from a single center for consecutive isolated dizziness patients, with the same inclusion and exclusion criteria. Those who met any of the following criteria were excluded: no FNT data, age < 16 years, and psychological trauma. The primary outcome was cerebrovascular event, which was defined as cerebral stroke due to cerebral infarction, cerebral hemorrhage, vertebral artery dissection, or transient ischemic attack. In the combined dataset, there were 357 patients complaining of isolated dizziness and 31 cerebrovascular events. After adjusted by 5 previously reported risk factors for cerebrovascular event, (age, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, diabetes mellitus, nystagmus), a multivariable logistic model analysis showed that the existence of FNT abnormalities was significantly associated with cerebrovascular events (odds ratio, 25.3; 95% confidence interval, 7.3-88.2; p < 0.001). There was a significant increase in predictive accuracy, with an AUC increase of 0.116 in the in a ROC analysis (p = 0.023). The existence of FNT abnormalities is considered as a strong risk factor that could be useful for predicting cerebrovascular events in isolated dizziness patients. We recommend the FNT for screening isolated dizziness patients in EDs to judge whether they need to undergo further diagnostic evaluation.
Carmona S, Martínez C, Zalazar G, Moro M, Batuecas-Caletrio A, Luis L, Gordon C.
The Diagnostic Accuracy of Truncal Ataxia and HINTS as Cardinal Signs for Acute Vestibular Syndrome.
Front Neurol. 2016;7:125. doi: 10.3389/fneur.2016.00125. Epub 2016 Aug 8.
Abstract/Text
The head impulse, nystagmus type, test of skew (HINTS) protocol set a new paradigm to differentiate peripheral vestibular disease from stroke in patients with acute vestibular syndrome (AVS). The relationship between degree of truncal ataxia and stroke has not been systematically studied in patients with AVS. We studied a group of 114 patients who were admitted to a General Hospital due to AVS, 72 of them with vestibular neuritis (based on positive head impulse, abnormal caloric tests, and negative MRI) and the rest with stroke: 32 in the posterior inferior cerebellar artery (PICA) territory (positive HINTS findings, positive MRI) and 10 in the anterior inferior cerebellar artery (AICA) territory (variable findings and grade 3 ataxia, positive MRI). Truncal ataxia was measured by independent observers as grade 1, mild to moderate imbalance with walking independently; grade 2, severe imbalance with standing, but cannot walk without support; and grade 3, falling at upright posture. When we applied the HINTS protocol to our sample, we obtained 100% sensitivity and 94.4% specificity, similar to previously published findings. Only those patients with stroke presented with grade 3 ataxia. Of those with grade 2 ataxia (n = 38), 11 had cerebellar stroke and 28 had vestibular neuritis, not related to the patient's age. Grade 2-3 ataxia was 92.9% sensitive and 61.1% specific to detect AICA/PICA stroke in patients with AVS, with 100% sensitivity to detect AICA stroke. In turn, two signs (nystagmus of central origin and grade 2-3 Ataxia) had 100% sensitivity and 61.1% specificity. Ataxia is less sensitive than HINTS but much easier to evaluate.
Gerlier C, Hoarau M, Fels A, Vitaux H, Mousset C, Farhat W, Firmin M, Pouyet V, Paoli A, Chatellier G, Ganansia O.
Differentiating central from peripheral causes of acute vertigo in an emergency setting with the HINTS, STANDING, and ABCD2 tests: A diagnostic cohort study.
Acad Emerg Med. 2021 Dec;28(12):1368-1378. doi: 10.1111/acem.14337. Epub 2021 Jul 20.
Abstract/Text
BACKGROUND: Diagnosing stroke in dizzy patients remains a challenge in emergency medicine. The accuracy of the neuroophthalmologic examination HINTS performed by emergency physicians (EPs) is unknown. Our objective was to determine the accuracy of the HINTS examination performed by trained EPs for diagnosing central cause of acute vertigo and unsteadiness and to compare it with another bedside clinical tool, STANDING, and with the history-based score ABCD2.
METHODS: This was a prospective diagnostic cohort study among patients with isolated vertigo and unsteadiness seen in a single emergency department (ED). Trained EPs performed HINTS and STANDING tests blinded to attending physicians. ABCD2 ≥ 4 was used as the threshold and was calculated retrospectively. The criterion standard was diffusion-weighted brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Peripheral diagnoses were established by a normal MRI, and etiologies were further refined by an otologic examination.
RESULTS: We included 300 patients of whom 62 had a central lesion on neuroimaging including 49 strokes (79%). Of the 238 peripheral diagnoses, 159 were vestibulopathies, mainly benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (40%). HINTS and STANDING tests reached high sensitivities at 97% and 94% and NPVs at 99% and 98%, respectively. The ABCD2 score failed to predict half of central vertigo cases and had a sensitivity of 55% and a NPV of 87%. The STANDING test was more specific and had a better positive predictive value (PPV; 75% and 49%, respectively; positive likelihood ratio [LR+] = 3.71, negative likelihood ratio [LR-] = 0.09) than the HINTS test (67% and 44%, respectively; LR+ = 2.96, LR- = 0.04). The ABCD2 score was specific (82%, LR+ = 3.04, LR- = 0.56) but had a very low PPV (44%).
CONCLUSIONS: In the hands of EPs, HINTS and STANDING tests outperformed ABCD2 in identifying central causes of vertigo. For diagnosing peripheral disorders, the STANDING algorithm is more specific than the HINTS test. HINTS and STANDING could be useful tools saving both time and costs related to unnecessary neuroimaging use.
© 2021 by the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine.
Vanni S, Pecci R, Edlow JA, Nazerian P, Santimone R, Pepe G, Moretti M, Pavellini A, Caviglioli C, Casula C, Bigiarini S, Vannucchi P, Grifoni S.
Differential Diagnosis of Vertigo in the Emergency Department: A Prospective Validation Study of the STANDING Algorithm.
Front Neurol. 2017;8:590. doi: 10.3389/fneur.2017.00590. Epub 2017 Nov 7.
Abstract/Text
OBJECTIVE: We investigated the reliability and accuracy of a bedside diagnostic algorithm for patients presenting with vertigo/unsteadiness to the emergency department.
METHODS: We enrolled consecutive adult patients presenting with vertigo/unsteadiness at a tertiary hospital. STANDING, the acronym for the four-step algorithm we have previously described, based on nystagmus observation and well-known diagnostic maneuvers includes (1) the discrimination between SponTAneous and positional nystagmus, (2) the evaluation of the Nystagmus Direction, (3) the head Impulse test, and (4) the evaluation of equilibrium (staNdinG). Reliability of each step was analyzed by Fleiss' K calculation. The reference standard (central vertigo) was a composite of brain disease including stroke, demyelinating disease, neoplasm, or other brain disease diagnosed by initial imaging or during 3-month follow-up.
RESULTS: Three hundred and fifty-two patients were included. The incidence of central vertigo was 11.4% [95% confidence interval (CI) 8.2-15.2%]. The leading cause was ischemic stroke (70%). The STANDING showed a good reliability (overall Fleiss K 0.83), the second step showing the highest (0.95), and the third step the lowest (0.74) agreement. The overall accuracy of the algorithm was 88% (95% CI 85-88%), showing high sensitivity (95%, 95% CI 83-99%) and specificity (87%, 95% CI 85-87%), very high-negative predictive value (99%, 95% CI 97-100%), and a positive predictive value of 48% (95% CI 41-50%) for central vertigo.
CONCLUSION: Using the STANDING algorithm, non-sub-specialists achieved good reliability and high accuracy in excluding stroke and other threatening causes of vertigo/unsteadiness.
Vanni S, Nazerian P, Pecci R, Pepe G, Pavellini A, Casula C, de Curtis E, Ronchetti M, Vannucchi P, Bartolucci M.
Timing for nystagmus evaluation by STANDING or HINTS in patients with vertigo/dizziness in the emergency department.
Acad Emerg Med. 2023 May;30(5):592-594. doi: 10.1111/acem.14635. Epub 2022 Dec 22.
Abstract/Text
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Headache Classification Committee of the International Headache Society (IHS) The International Classification of Headache Disorders, 3rd edition.
Cephalalgia. 2018 Jan;38(1):1-211. doi: 10.1177/0333102417738202.
Abstract/Text
Kattah JC, Talkad AV, Wang DZ, Hsieh YH, Newman-Toker DE.
HINTS to diagnose stroke in the acute vestibular syndrome: three-step bedside oculomotor examination more sensitive than early MRI diffusion-weighted imaging.
Stroke. 2009 Nov;40(11):3504-10. doi: 10.1161/STROKEAHA.109.551234. Epub 2009 Sep 17.
Abstract/Text
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Acute vestibular syndrome (AVS) is often due to vestibular neuritis but can result from vertebrobasilar strokes. Misdiagnosis of posterior fossa infarcts in emergency care settings is frequent. Bedside oculomotor findings may reliably identify stroke in AVS, but prospective studies have been lacking.
METHODS: The authors conducted a prospective, cross-sectional study at an academic hospital. Consecutive patients with AVS (vertigo, nystagmus, nausea/vomiting, head-motion intolerance, unsteady gait) with >or=1 stroke risk factor underwent structured examination, including horizontal head impulse test of vestibulo-ocular reflex function, observation of nystagmus in different gaze positions, and prism cross-cover test of ocular alignment. All underwent neuroimaging and admission (generally <72 hours after symptom onset). Strokes were diagnosed by MRI or CT. Peripheral lesions were diagnosed by normal MRI and clinical follow-up.
RESULTS: One hundred one high-risk patients with AVS included 25 peripheral and 76 central lesions (69 ischemic strokes, 4 hemorrhages, 3 other). The presence of normal horizontal head impulse test, direction-changing nystagmus in eccentric gaze, or skew deviation (vertical ocular misalignment) was 100% sensitive and 96% specific for stroke. Skew was present in 17% and associated with brainstem lesions (4% peripheral, 4% pure cerebellar, 30% brainstem involvement; chi(2), P=0.003). Skew correctly predicted lateral pontine stroke in 2 of 3 cases in which an abnormal horizontal head impulse test erroneously suggested peripheral localization. Initial MRI diffusion-weighted imaging was falsely negative in 12% (all <48 hours after symptom onset).
CONCLUSIONS: Skew predicts brainstem involvement in AVS and can identify stroke when an abnormal horizontal head impulse test falsely suggests a peripheral lesion. A 3-step bedside oculomotor examination (HINTS: Head-Impulse-Nystagmus-Test-of-Skew) appears more sensitive for stroke than early MRI in AVS.
Edlow JA.
Diagnosing Patients With Acute-Onset Persistent Dizziness.
Ann Emerg Med. 2018 May;71(5):625-631. doi: 10.1016/j.annemergmed.2017.10.012. Epub 2017 Nov 24.
Abstract/Text
Okada M, Nakagawa Y, Inokuchi S.
Out-of-hospital scaling to recognize central vertigo.
Tokai J Exp Clin Med. 2012 Sep 20;37(3):71-4. Epub 2012 Sep 20.
Abstract/Text
OBJECTIVE: To determine parameters that could assist emergency medical services (EMS) or triage personnel in identifying patients with central vertigo (cerebellar stroke).
METHODS: The medical records at a university-based emergency department (ED) were retrospectively analyzed. The study patients comprised of 23 patients who were transported by EMS between April 2011 and March 2012 with a chief complaint of vertigo. We reviewed their medical records, including their symptoms, vital signs, review of systems, and past medical histories, to identify several parameters that could be used by paramedics to recognize central vertigo (cerebellar stroke).
RESULTS: Of the 23 patients, 4 had central vertigo (2 had cerebellar infarction and 2 had cerebellar hemorrhage) and 19 had peripheral vertigo. High blood pressure and lack of horizontal component of nystagmus were found to be good predictors of central vertigo (cerebellar stroke) in these patients. Using a systolic blood pressure of more than 160 mmHg and lack of horizontal component of nystagmus as parameters, we can predict central vertigo (cerebellar stroke) with 100% sensitivity, 84% specificity, 57% positive predictive value and 100% negative predictive value (P = 0.0035).
CONCLUSION: Using limited sample data, high blood pressure and lack of horizontal component of nystagmus were identified as good out-of-hospital parameters that could be used by paramedics to recognize central vertigo (cerebellar stroke).
Newman-Toker DE, Kerber KA, Hsieh YH, Pula JH, Omron R, Saber Tehrani AS, Mantokoudis G, Hanley DF, Zee DS, Kattah JC.
HINTS outperforms ABCD2 to screen for stroke in acute continuous vertigo and dizziness.
Acad Emerg Med. 2013 Oct;20(10):986-96. doi: 10.1111/acem.12223.
Abstract/Text
OBJECTIVES: Dizziness and vertigo account for about 4 million emergency department (ED) visits annually in the United States, and some 160,000 to 240,000 (4% to 6%) have cerebrovascular causes. Stroke diagnosis in ED patients with vertigo/dizziness is challenging because the majority have no obvious focal neurologic signs at initial presentation. The authors sought to compare the accuracy of two previously published approaches purported to be useful in bedside screening for possible stroke in dizziness: a clinical decision rule (head impulse, nystagmus type, test of skew [HINTS]) and a risk stratification rule (age, blood pressure, clinical features, duration of symptoms, diabetes [ABCD2]).
METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study of high-risk patients (more than one stroke risk factor) with acute vestibular syndrome (AVS; acute, persistent vertigo or dizziness with nystagmus, plus nausea or vomiting, head motion intolerance, and new gait unsteadiness) at a single academic center. All underwent neurootologic examination, neuroimaging (97.4% by magnetic resonance imaging [MRI]), and follow-up. ABCD2 risk scores (0-7 points), using the recommended cutoff of ≥4 for stroke, were compared to a three-component eye movement battery (HINTS). Sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative likelihood ratios (LR+, LR-) were assessed for stroke and other central causes, and the results were stratified by age. False-negative initial neuroimaging was also assessed.
RESULTS: A total of 190 adult AVS patients were assessed (1999-2012). Median age was 60.5 years (range = 18 to 92 years; interquartile range [IQR] = 52.0 to 70.0 years); 60.5% were men. Final diagnoses were vestibular neuritis (34.7%), posterior fossa stroke (59.5% [105 infarctions, eight hemorrhages]), and other central causes (5.8%). Median ABCD2 was 4.0 (range = 2 to 7; IQR = 3.0 to 4.0). ABCD2 ≥ 4 for stroke had sensitivity of 61.1%, specificity of 62.3%, LR+ of 1.62, and LR- of 0.62; sensitivity was lower for those younger than 60 years old (28.9%). HINTS stroke sensitivity was 96.5%, specificity was 84.4%, LR+ was 6.19, and LR- was 0.04 and did not vary by age. For any central lesion, sensitivity was 96.8%, specificity was 98.5%, LR+ was 63.9, and LR- was 0.03 for HINTS, and sensitivity was 99.2%, specificity was 97.0%, LR+ was 32.7, and LR- was 0.01 for HINTS "plus" (any new hearing loss added to HINTS). Initial MRIs were falsely negative in 15 of 105 (14.3%) infarctions; all but one was obtained before 48 hours after onset, and all were confirmed by delayed MRI.
CONCLUSIONS: HINTS substantially outperforms ABCD2 for stroke diagnosis in ED patients with AVS. It also outperforms MRI obtained within the first 2 days after symptom onset. While HINTS testing has traditionally been performed by specialists, methods for empowering emergency physicians (EPs) to leverage this approach for stroke screening in dizziness should be investigated.
© 2013 by the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine.
Ohle R, Montpellier RA, Marchadier V, Wharton A, McIsaac S, Anderson M, Savage D.
Can Emergency Physicians Accurately Rule Out a Central Cause of Vertigo Using the HINTS Examination? A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.
Acad Emerg Med. 2020 Sep;27(9):887-896. doi: 10.1111/acem.13960. Epub 2020 Apr 8.
Abstract/Text
INTRODUCTION: Dizziness is a common complaint presented in the emergency department (ED). A subset of these patients will present with acute vestibular syndrome (AVS). AVS is a clinical syndrome defined by the presence of vertigo, nystagmus, head motion intolerance, ataxia, and nausea/vomiting. These symptoms are most often due to benign vestibular neuritis; however, they can be a sign of a dangerous central cause, i.e., vertebrobasilar stroke. The Head Impulse test, Nystagmus, Test of Skew (HINTS) examination has been proposed as a bedside test for frontline clinicians to rule out stroke in those presenting with AVS. Our objective was to assess the diagnostic accuracy of the HINTS examination to rule out a central cause of vertigo in an adult population presenting to the ED with AVS. Our aim was to assess the diagnostic accuracy when performed by emergency physicians versus neurologists.
METHODS: We searched PubMed, Medline, Embase, the Cochrane database, and relevant conference abstracts from 2009 to September 2019 and performed hand searches. No restrictions for language or study type were imposed. Prospective studies with patients presenting with AVS using criterion standard of computed tomography and/or magnetic resonance imaging were selected for review. Two independent reviewers extracted data from relevant studies. Studies were combined if low clinical and statistical heterogeneity was present. Study quality was assessed using the QUADAS-2 tool. Random effects meta-analysis was performed using RevMan 5 and SAS 9.3.
RESULTS: A total of five studies with 617 participants met the inclusion criteria. The mean (±SD) study length was 5.3 (±3.3) years. Prevalence of vertebrobasilar stroke ranged 9.3% to 44% (mean ± SD = 39.1% ± 17.1%). The most common diagnoses were vertebrobasilar stroke (mean ± SD = 34.8% ± 17.1%), peripheral cause (mean ± SD = 30.9% ± 16%), and intracerebral hemorrhage (mean ± SD = 2.2% ± 0.5%). The HINTS examination, when performed by neurologists, had a sensitivity of 96.7% (95% CI = 93.1% to 98.5%, I2 = 0%) and specificity of 94.8% (95% CI = 91% to 97.1%, I2 = 0%). When performed by a cohort of physicians including both emergency physicians (board certified) and neurologists (fellowship trained in neurootology or vascular neurology) the sensitivity was 83% (95% CI = 63% to 95%) and specificity was 44% (95% CI = 36% to 51%).
CONCLUSIONS: The HINTS examination, when used in isolation by emergency physicians, has not been shown to be sufficiently accurate to rule out a stroke in those presenting with AVS.
© 2020 by the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine.
Dmitriew C, Regis A, Bodunde O, Lepage R, Turgeon Z, McIsaac S, Ohle R.
Diagnostic Accuracy of the HINTS Exam in an Emergency Department: A Retrospective Chart Review.
Acad Emerg Med. 2021 Apr;28(4):387-393. doi: 10.1111/acem.14171. Epub 2020 Dec 4.
Abstract/Text
INTRODUCTION: The HINTS exam is a series of bedside ocular motor tests designed to distinguish between central and peripheral causes of dizziness in patients with continuous dizziness, nystagmus, and gait unsteadiness. Previous studies, where the HINTS exam was performed by trained specialists, have shown excellent diagnostic accuracy. Our objective was to assess the diagnostic accuracy of the HINTS exam as performed by emergency physicians on patients presenting to the emergency department (ED) with a primary complaint of vertigo or dizziness.
METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was performed using data from patients who presented to a tertiary care ED between September 2014 and March 2018 with a primary complaint of vertigo or dizziness. Patient characteristics of those who received the HINTS exam were assessed along with sensitivity and specificity of the test to rule out a central cause of stroke.
RESULTS: A total of 2,309 patients met criteria for inclusion in the study. Physician uptake of the HINTS exam was high, with 450 (19.5%) dizzy patients receiving all or part of the HINTS. A large majority of patients (96.9%) did not meet criteria for receiving the test as described in validation studies; most often this was because patients lacked documentation of nystagmus or described their symptoms as intermittent. In addition, many patients received both HINTS and Dix-Hallpike exams, which are intended for use in mutually exclusive patient populations. In no case was dizziness due to a central cause identified using the HINTS exam.
CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that despite widespread use of the HINTS exam in our ED, its diagnostic value in that setting was limited. The test was frequently used in patients who did not meet criteria to receive the HINTS exam (i.e., continuous vertigo, nystagmus, and unsteady gait). Additional training of emergency physicians may be required to improve test sensitivity and specificity.
© 2020 by the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine.
Quimby AE, Kwok ESH, Lelli D, Johns P, Tse D.
Usage of the HINTS exam and neuroimaging in the assessment of peripheral vertigo in the emergency department.
J Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2018 Sep 10;47(1):54. doi: 10.1186/s40463-018-0305-8. Epub 2018 Sep 10.
Abstract/Text
BACKGROUND: Dizziness is a common presenting symptom in the emergency department (ED). The HINTS exam, a battery of bedside clinical tests, has been shown to have greater sensitivity than neuroimaging in ruling out stroke in patients presenting with acute vertigo. The present study sought to assess practice patterns in the assessment of patients in the ED with peripherally-originating vertigo with respect to utilization of HINTS and neuroimaging.
METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was performed using data pertaining to 500 randomly selected ED visits at a tertiary care centre with a final diagnostic code related to peripherally-originating vertigo between January 1, 2010 - December 31, 2014.
RESULTS: A total of 380 patients met inclusion criteria. Of patients presenting to the ED with dizziness and vertigo and a final diagnosis of non-central vertigo, 139 (36.6%) received neuroimaging in the form of CT, CT angiography, or MRI. Of patients who did not undergo neuroimaging, 17 (7.1%) had a bedside HINTS exam performed. Almost half (44%) of documented HINTS interpretations consisted of the ambiguous usage of "HINTS negative" as opposed to the terminology suggested in the literature ("HINTS central" or "HINTS peripheral").
CONCLUSIONS: In this single-centre retrospective review, we have demonstrated that the HINTS exam is under-utilized in the ED as compared to neuroimaging in the assessment of patients with peripheral vertigo. This finding suggests that there is room for improvement in ED physicians' application and interpretation of the HINTS exam.
Chalela JA, Kidwell CS, Nentwich LM, Luby M, Butman JA, Demchuk AM, Hill MD, Patronas N, Latour L, Warach S.
Magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography in emergency assessment of patients with suspected acute stroke: a prospective comparison.
Lancet. 2007 Jan 27;369(9558):293-8. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(07)60151-2.
Abstract/Text
BACKGROUND: Although the use of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for the diagnosis of acute stroke is increasing, this method has not proved more effective than computed tomography (CT) in the emergency setting. We aimed to prospectively compare CT and MRI for emergency diagnosis of acute stroke.
METHODS: We did a single-centre, prospective, blind comparison of non-contrast CT and MRI (with diffusion-weighted and susceptibility weighted images) in a consecutive series of patients referred for emergency assessment of suspected acute stroke. Scans were independently interpreted by four experts, who were unaware of clinical information, MRI-CT pairings, and follow-up imaging.
RESULTS: 356 patients, 217 of whom had a final clinical diagnosis of acute stroke, were assessed. MRI detected acute stroke (ischaemic or haemorrhagic), acute ischaemic stroke, and chronic haemorrhage more frequently than did CT (p<0.0001, for all comparisons). MRI was similar to CT for the detection of acute intracranial haemorrhage. MRI detected acute ischaemic stroke in 164 of 356 patients (46%; 95% CI 41-51%), compared with CT in 35 of 356 patients (10%; 7-14%). In the subset of patients scanned within 3 h of symptom onset, MRI detected acute ischaemic stroke in 41 of 90 patients (46%; 35-56%); CT in 6 of 90 (7%; 3-14%). Relative to the final clinical diagnosis, MRI had a sensitivity of 83% (181 of 217; 78-88%) and CT of 26% (56 of 217; 20-32%) for the diagnosis of any acute stroke.
INTERPRETATION: MRI is better than CT for detection of acute ischaemia, and can detect acute and chronic haemorrhage; therefore it should be the preferred test for accurate diagnosis of patients with suspected acute stroke. Because our patient sample encompassed the range of disease that is likely to be encountered in emergency cases of suspected stroke, our results are directly applicable to clinical practice.
Shah VP, Oliveira J E Silva L, Farah W, Seisa M, Kara Balla A, Christensen A, Farah M, Hasan B, Bellolio F, Murad MH.
Diagnostic accuracy of neuroimaging in emergency department patients with acute vertigo or dizziness: A systematic review and meta-analysis for the guidelines for reasonable and appropriate care in the emergency department.
Acad Emerg Med. 2023 May;30(5):517-530. doi: 10.1111/acem.14561. Epub 2022 Aug 17.
Abstract/Text
BACKGROUND: Patients presenting to the emergency department (ED) with acute vertigo or dizziness represent a diagnostic challenge. Neuroimaging has variable indications and yield. We aimed to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis of the diagnostic test accuracy of neuroimaging for patients presenting with acute vertigo or dizziness.
METHODS: An electronic search was designed following patient-intervention-control-outcome (PICO) question-(P) adult patients with acute vertigo or dizziness presenting to the ED; (I) neuroimaging including computed tomography (CT), CT angiography (CTA), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), magnetic resonance angiography (MRA), and ultrasound (US); (C) MRI/clinical criterion standard; and (O) central causes (stroke, hemorrhage, tumor, others) versus peripheral causes of symptoms. Articles were assessed in duplicate. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines were followed. Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluations (GRADE) was used to assess certainty of evidence in pooled estimates.
RESULTS: We included studies that reported diagnostic test accuracy. From 6309 titles, 460 articles were retrieved, and 12 were included: noncontrast CT scan-six studies, 771 patients, pooled sensitivity 28.5% (95% confidence interval [CI] 14.4%-48.5%, moderate certainty) and specificity 98.9% (95% CI 93.4%-99.8%, moderate certainty); MRI-five studies, 943 patients, sensitivity 79.8% (95% CI 71.4%-86.2%, high certainty) and specificity 98.8% (95% CI 96.2%-100%, high certainty); CTA-one study, 153 patients, sensitivity 14.3% (95% CI 1.8%-42.8%) and specificity 97.7% (95% CI 93.8%-99.6%), CT had higher sensitivity than CTA (21.4% and 14.3%) for central etiology; MRA-one study, 24 patients, sensitivity 60.0% (95% CI 26.2%-87.8%) and specificity 92.9% (95% CI 66.1%-99.8%); US-three studies, 258 patients, sensitivity ranged from 30% to 53.6%, specificity from 94.9% to 100%.
CONCLUSIONS: Noncontrast CT has very low sensitivity and MRI will miss approximately one in five patients with stroke if imaging is obtained early after symptom onset. The evidence does not support neuroimaging as the only tool for ruling out stroke and other central causes in patients with acute dizziness or vertigo presenting to the ED.
© 2022 Society for Academic Emergency Medicine.
Hoffman JR, Kanzaria HK.
Intolerance of error and culture of blame drive medical excess.
BMJ. 2014 Oct 14;349:g5702. doi: 10.1136/bmj.g5702. Epub 2014 Oct 14.
Abstract/Text
Jerome R Hoffman: and Hemal K Kanzaria: argue that efforts to reduce overdiagnosis and overtreatment should focus on changing professional and public attitudes towards medical error and uncertainty.
© BMJ Publishing Group Ltd 2014.
