Abstract

BARROS, Anna Carolina Marques Perrella de  and  CAOVILLA, Heloisa Helena. From nystagmus to the air and water caloric tests. Braz. j. otorhinolaryngol. [online]. 2012, vol.78, n.4, pp. 120-125. ISSN 1808-8694.  http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S1808-86942012000400022.

The caloric test is an important tool for the assessment of labyrinthine function. OBJECTIVE: To compare the nystagmus response in the caloric tests with air at 50ºC and 24ºC and with water at 44ºC and 30ºC. Study Design: Randomized crossover clinical trial. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 40 healthy individuals were submitted to a neurotological evaluation, including caloric tests with air at 50ºC and 24ºC and water at 44ºC and 30ºC. RESULTS: Comparing the air and water caloric tests, there were no significant differences among the post-caloric nystagmus slow-phase velocity in relation to the stimulation order, between ears and between the values of unilateral weakness and directional preponderance. The slow-phase velocity values were higher with water (p = 0.008, p < 0.001), and cold stimulation produced stronger responses (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Comparing 50ºC and 24ºC air caloric test and 44ºC and 30ºC water caloric test, we observed similar slow-phase velocity values for both ears, higher responses in the cold temperature and in the test with water, and similar results of unilateral weakness or directional preponderance for post-caloric nystagmus in both tests.

Keywords : caloric tests; labyrinthine fluids; nystagmus; physiologic; vestibular function tests; vestibule; labyrinth.