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Heart rate and blood pressure effects during caloric vestibular testing

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 March 2010

A V Kasbekar ,
D M Baguley ,
R Knight ,
P Gomersall ,
R Parker ,
S W K Lloyd ,
K Butler  and
D P Dutka
A V Kasbekar*
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, UK
D M Baguley
Affiliation:
Department of Audiology, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, UK
R Knight
Affiliation:
Department of Audiology, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, UK
P Gomersall
Affiliation:
Department of Audiology, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, UK
R Parker
Affiliation:
Centre for Applied Medical Statistics, University of Cambridge, UK
S W K Lloyd
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, UK
K Butler
Affiliation:
Department of Audiology, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, UK
D P Dutka
Affiliation:
Department of Cardiology, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, UK
*
Address for correspondence: Mr Anand Kasbekar, Flat 2/2, 67 Wilton Street, Glasgow G20 6RD, Scotland, UK. E-mail: anandkasbekar@doctors.org.uk
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Abstract

Objectives:

To determine whether the caloric vestibular test causes significant changes in heart rate and mean arterial blood pressure.

Materials and methods:

Changes in heart rate and mean arterial blood pressure before and after caloric irrigation were compared with the degree of nystagmus (as measured by maximum slow phase velocity) and the patient's subjective dizziness (scored from 0 to 10). A cardiologist reviewed each patient's heart rate and mean arterial blood pressure changes. Patients' anxiety levels were also assessed.

Results:

Eighteen patients were recruited. There were no adverse events in any patient. There were no overall significant differences between the heart rate and mean arterial pressure before and after each irrigation. There was a significant correlation between the maximum slow phase velocity and patients' subjective dizziness scores.

Conclusion:

Heart rate and mean arterial blood pressure are not significantly influenced by the caloric vestibular test. This preliminary study will enable patients with stable cardiovascular disease to be recruited for further risk determination.

Keywords

Caloric TestPostural BalanceHeart RateBlood Pressure

Information

Type
Main Articles
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 124 , Issue 6 , June 2010 , pp. 616 - 622
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 2010

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Footnotes

The first two authors contributed equally to this paper, and should be considered as joint first authors.

Presented at the British Academy of Audiology Conference, 28 November 2009, Liverpool, UK.

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