[Effect of irrigation sequence in vestibular paresis results of bithermal caloric tests].
OBJECTIVE
Bithermal caloric tests are among those most commonly used in vestibular function studies and require a properly systematized approach. Irrigation sequence varies between laboratories. Our objective is to study the effect of irrigation sequence on the percentage of vestibular paresis.


METHODS
We analysed 1214 records, 77.51% cold to hot sequences (C-H) and the rest hot to cold (H-C). We considered results above 24% of vestibular asymmetry to be pathological.


RESULTS
In general, 33.36% of the records were pathological. Groups compared showed that H-C sequence had more significant (P <0.001) pathological results than C-H (46.52% vs 29.54%).


CONCLUSIONS
Irrigation sequence has a significant influence on the outcome of caloric tests to for the detection of vestibular paresis. More studies are needed to confirm the best irrigation sequence.
Olóriz
Javier
J
Servicio de ORL, Hospital Virgen de las Nieves, Granada, España. javiolariz@seore.net
Alonso
Isidro
I
Chaparro
Pilar
P
Calvente
Remedios
R
Pérez
Sabina
S
Salinero
J
J
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002150:Caloric Tests; D004584:Electronystagmography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010291:Paresis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D007507:Therapeutic Irrigation; D015837:Vestibular Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014743:Videotape Recording