Dizziness resident survival guide
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Moises Romo M.D.
Overview
Dizziness is a complex and subjective complaint that encompasses a wide spectrum of symptomatology. It is one of the most common presenting symptoms among patients seen by emergency medical physicians, primary care physicians, neurologists, and otolaryngologists.
Causes
Life Threatening Causes
- Life-threatening causes include conditions that may result in death or permanent disability within 24 hours if left untreated.
Common Causes
- Hypotension
- Dehydration
- Hypoglycemia
- Arrhythmias
- Stroke
- Labyrinthitis
- Meniere's disease
- BPV
- Medication effects
Diagnosis
- Shown below is an algorithm summarizing the diagnosis of dizziness according to the American Academy of Neurology guidelines.
| Patient with dizzinesss | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Presentation periodical or sustained? | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Periodical | Sustained | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Provoked or unprovoked? | History of intoxication or trauma, or unknown? | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Provoked | Unprovoked | History of intoxication | Unknown | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Apply Dix-Hallpike maneuver | Physical examination | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Deafness | Headache | Psychiatric symptoms | Barotrauma | Drugs | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Positive | Negative | Meniere disease | Vestibular migraine | Panic attack, psychiatric condition | Nistagmus dominantly horizontal, direction-fixed, saccade present | Nistagmus dominantly vertical, no saccade, torsion or gaze evoked bidirectionaly | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo | Orthostatic hypotension | Vestibular neuritis | Stroke, transient ischemic attack | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Do's
- Always ask the patient what do they mean by dizziness. Dizziness may have a different meaning among patients; while vertigo may represent a vestibular condition, presyncope directs to a cardiovascular problem, or disequilibrium a neurological or psychiatric one.
- Intentionally ask for any history of possible intoxication, medications used, and exposures. A full history review may disclose dizziness due to trauma or an intoxication.
- Ask for any eliciting or exacerbating features. Dix-Hallpike maneuver may easily detect a benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) and differentiate it from a orthostatic hypotension.
- Perform a full neurological examination. A head-impulse, nystagmus, test of skew (HINTS) can differentiate between a central from a peripheral cause.
- When taking vital signs, remember to measure blood pressure in standing and supine position.
- Perform a Romberg test. A positive Romberg test may disclose a peripheral etiology.
Don'ts
- Do not perform imaging as as routine.
- Do not forget about psychiatric causes. Many times psychiatric conditions, such as panic attacks, may mimic dizziness.
- Do not forget abut orthostatic hypotension. Orthostatic hypotension is a very common cause of dizziness, especially in elderly people due to blood vessels rigidity (arteriosclerosis).
- Do not miss transiten ischemic attack (TIA). TIA is one of the most missed diagnosis when a patient presents with dizziness.
- When looking after benign paroxysmal vertigo (BPV), do not perform Dix-Hallpike only once. BPPV only comes positive in around 70% of the times with first attempt, several attempts may be necessary.
- Do not give any kind of pharmacologic treatment for BPPV.