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Schweizer Archiv fur Tierheilkunde2024; 166(7); 379-392; doi: 10.17236/sat00428

[Brainstem auditory evoked responses in horses with hearing loss and during general anesthesia].

Abstract: The brainstem auditory evoked response (BAER) is a diagnostic approach to examine the hearing system of horses objectively. The aim of this BAER examination was the diagnosis of conductive or sensorineural hearing loss or deafness in horses with external otitis, head trauma, headshaking, tinnitus or skittish horses with eye disease. Brainstem dysfunction is induced by intracranial hypotension. BAER was used in horses with colic surgery which had a low arterial blood pressure during general anesthesia. The endoscopic finding of the guttural pouch was the ipsilateral mild to severe hypertrophy of the tympanostylohyoideum in horses with external otitis or head trauma. The otoscopic examination of standing sedated horses was done before BAER. The cartilagineous and osseous part of the external ear canal in horses with external otitis were obstructed with exsudate and tympanic membranes were not visible. Horses with right sided external otitis: right moderate to severe conductive hearing loss (significantly prolonged latencies of I, III, V and interpeak latencies I-III, I-V, III-V; thresholds of hearing levels 60 to 80 dB right); horses with left sided external otitis: left severe conductive hearing loss (no correct identification of BAER peaks, latencies not measurable, 80 dB); horse with left sided head trauma: severe left sided conductive hearing loss (blood in the left external ear canal, no visible tympanic membrane, no correct identification of BAER peaks, latencies not measurable, 80 dB); horses with head shaking: mild sensorineural hearing loss on both sides (on both sides osseous parts II/III with keratin scales of the junction, visible tympanic membranes, significantly prolonged V, I-III, I-V, 40 dB); moderate to severe skittish horses with chronic eye disease (mostly left sided equine recurrent uveitis): moderate sensorineural hearing loss on both sides (normal otoscopical findings, significantly prolonged latencies and interpeak latencies left; I-V, III-V right, 60 dB, pathological involvement in the auditory pathway of the brainstem between the cochlear nucleus and colliculus caudalis); horse with a tinnitus on both sides: mild sensorineural hearing loss on both sides (normal otoscopical findings, prolonged V, I-III, I-V, III-V, 40 dB, pathology of auditory nerve, cochlear nucleus and above the level of this nucleus); American paint horses: sensorineurale deafness on both sides (normal otoscopical findings, absent BAER peaks, isoelectric lines and 80 dB on both sides). The prolonged latencies of I, III and V including interpeak latencies I-III only left and I-V and III-V on both sides in horses with laparotomy during general anesthesia were associated with low arterial blood pressure (62 mmHg, median). These findings could demonstrate a hypotension in the brainstem too. The BAER could be a technical tool during general anesthesia for normalizing the arterial blood pressure and brainstem function to prevent imbalance of body movements after general anesthesia. Die objektive Hörprüfung beim Pferd wird mit der Hirnstammaudiometrie (HA) durchgeführt. Ziel dieser Untersuchungen ist die Diagnose einer konduktiven oder sensorineuralen Schwerhörigkeit oder Taubheit bei Pferden mit Otitis externa, Kopftrauma, Kopfschütteln, Tinnitus oder bei Pferden mit Schreckhaftigkeit und Augenkrankheit. Da die Hirnstammaudiometrie auch die Hirnstammfunktion überprüft, sind Pferde mit Laparotomie und präoperativer Dehydratation auf Hirnstammdysfunktion infolge eines erniedrigten arteriellen Blutdruckes untersucht worden. Die Otoskopie und die Hirnstammaudiometrie (AEP-System Corona) sind durchgeführt worden. Die Otoskopiebefunde bei Pferden mit Otitis externa: Pars cartilaginea et ossea Grad III, nicht sichtbares Trommelfell. Luftsackendoskopiebefunde der Pferde mit Otitis externa exsudativa oder Kopftrauma: stets ipsilateral eine Vergrösserung oder Hypertrophie des Tympanostylohyoideums. Befunde der HA dieser Pferde mit Otitis externa dexter lauten: mittel- bis hochgradige, konduktive Schwerhörigkeit rechts (signifikant verlängerte Wellen I, III, V, Interpeaklatenzen I-III, I-V, III-V im Vergleich zur Kontrollgruppe, Grenzwerte über normaler Hörschwelle 60 bis 80 dB); Pferde mit Otitis externa sinister: hochgradige, konduktive Schwerhörigkeit links (nicht identifizierbare Wellen, 80 dB links); Pferde mit Ohrgrundfistel rechts: geringgradige, beidseitige, sensorineurale Schwerhörigkeit (beidseits signifikante Verlängerung der Wellen III, V und Interpeaklatenzen, 40 dB); Pferd mit Kopftrauma links: hochgradige, konduktive Schwerhörigkeit (links Blut im äusseren Gehörgang, Trommelfell nicht sichtbar, Wellen nicht identifizierbar, 80 dB); Pferde mit Kopfschütteln: geringgradige, sensorineurale Schwerhörigkeit (beidseits Pars ossea Grad II, Trommelfelle sichtbar, signifikante Verlängerung V, I-III, I-V, 40 dB); Pferde mit Schreckhaftigkeit und Augenkrankheit: mittelgradige, sensorineurale Schwerhörigkeit (Otoskopie normal, signifikante Verlängerung aller Wellen und Interpeaklatenzen links, I-V, III-V rechts, 60 dB, pathologische Hörbahnleitungsgeschwindigkeit im Hirnstamm); American Paint Horses: sensorineurale Taubheit (Otoskopie normal, beidseits isoelektrische Linie der HA, 80 dB). Die verlängerten Wellen I, III und V und Interpeaklatenzen I-III, I-V und III-V bei Pferden mit Laparotomie sind assoziiert mit dem erniedrigten arteriellen Blutdruck (62 mmHg, median) während der Allgemeinanästhesie und weisen auf eine Hypotension im Hirnstamm hin. Während der Allgemeinanästhesie bietet die Hirnstammaudiometrie eine besondere Möglichkeit, die Hirnstammdysfunktion nachzuweisen, den arteriellen Blutdruck zu regulieren und um ein problemloses Aufstehen mit auditiver und visueller Balance der Körperhaltung nach der Allgemeinanästhesie zu gewährleisten. L’examen objectif de l’audition chez le cheval est réalisé par la mesure des Potentiels Évoqués Auditifs (PEA) ou Brainstem Auditory-Evoked Response (BAER). L’objectif de ces examens est de diagnostiquer une surdité de transmission ou neurosensorielle ou une surdité chez les chevaux souffrant d’otite externe, de traumatisme crânien, de headshaking, d’acouphènes ou chez des chevaux craintifs souffrant d’une maladie oculaire. Étant donné que l’audiométrie du tronc cérébral vérifie également la fonction du tronc cérébral, des chevaux ayant subi une laparotomie et une déshydratation préopératoire ont été examinés pour détecter un dysfonctionnement du tronc cérébral dû à une baisse de la pression artérielle. L’otoscopie et l’audiométrie du tronc cérébral (système AEP Corona) ont été réalisées. Les résultats de l’otoscopie chez les chevaux atteints d’otite externe: Pars cartilaginea et ossea degré III, tympan non visible. Les résultats de l’endoscopie des poches gutturales chez les chevaux atteints d’otite externe exsudative ou de traumatisme crânien: toujours une augmentation ou une hypertrophie ipsilatérale du tympanostylohyoïdien. Les résultats de la BAER des chevaux atteints d’ une otite externe à droite sont les suivants: surdité de transmission moyenne à sévère à droite (ondes I, III, V significativement prolongées, latences interpicales I-III, I-V, III-V par rapport au groupe de contrôle, valeurs limites au-dessus du seuil auditif normal 60 à 80 dB); chevaux atteints d’otite externe à gauche: surdité de transmission de haut niveau à gauche (ondes non identifiables, 80 dB à gauche); chevaux avec une fistule auriculaire à droite: surdité de perception bilatérale de bas niveau (allongement significatif des ondes III, V et des latences interpicales des deux côtés, 40 dB); cheval avec traumatisme crânien à gauche: surdité de transmission de degré élevé (à gauche, sang dans le conduit auditif externe, tympan non visible, ondes non identifiables, 80 dB); chevaux avec headshaking: surdité de perception de degré faible (des deux côtés, pars ossea de degré II, tympans visibles, allongement significatif V, I-III, I-V, 40 dB); chevaux présentant une peur et une maladie oculaire: surdité moyenne, neurosensorielle (otoscopie normale, allongement significatif de toutes les ondes et des latences interpeak à gauche, I-V, III-V à droite, 60 dB, vitesse pathologique de conduction des voies auditives dans le tronc cérébral); American Paint Horses: surdité neurosensorielle (otoscopie normale, ligne isoélectrique bilatérale des HA, 80 dB). Les ondes I, III et V prolongées et les latences interpicales I-III, I-V et III-V chez les chevaux ayant subi une laparotomie sont associées à la baisse de la pression artérielle (62 mmHg, médiane) pendant l’anesthésie générale et indiquent une hypotension dans le tronc cérébral. Pendant l’anesthésie générale, l’audiométrie du tronc cérébral offre une possibilité particulière de détecter le dysfonctionnement du tronc cérébral, de réguler la pression artérielle et de garantir un lever sans problème avec un équilibre auditif et visuel de la posture après l’anesthésie générale. I test oggettivi dell’udito nel cavallo vengono eseguiti con l’audiometria del tronco encefalico (ABR). Lo scopo di questi test è quello di diagnosticare la perdita dell’udito o la sordità conduttiva o neurosensoriale nei cavalli con otite esterna, trauma cranico, scuotimento della testa, acufeni o nei cavalli con nervosismo e malattie degli occhi. Poiché l’audiometria del tronco encefalico controlla anche la funzione del tronco encefalico, i cavalli sottoposti a laparotomia e disidratazione preoperatoria sono stati esaminati per verificare la presenza di disfunzioni del tronco encefalico dovute alla riduzione della pressione arteriosa. Sono state eseguite l’otoscopia e l’audiometria del tronco encefalico (sistema Corona AEP). I risultati dell’otoscopia nei cavalli con otite esterna sono: Pars cartilaginea et ossea di grado III, membrana timpanica non visibile. Risultati dell’endoscopia del sacco aereo nei cavalli con otite externa essudativa o trauma cranico: costante ingrandimento o ipertrofia del timpanostiloide omolaterale. I risultati dell’ABR di questi cavalli con otite externa dexter sono: ipoacusia conduttiva da moderata a grave a destra (onde I, III, V significativamente prolungate, latenze interpicali I-III, I-V, III-V rispetto al gruppo di controllo, soglie superiori alla soglia uditiva normale da 60 a 80 dB); cavalli con otite externa sinister: ipoacusia conduttiva di alto grado a sinistra (onde non identificabili, 80 dB a sinistra); cavalli con fistola della base dell’orecchio a destra: ipoacusia neurosensoriale di basso grado, bilaterale (prolungamento significativo delle onde III, V e delle latenze interpicali su entrambi i lati, 40 dB); cavalli con trauma cranico a sinistra: ipoacusia conduttiva di grado elevato (sangue nel condotto uditivo esterno a sinistra, timpano non visibile, onde non identificabili, 80 dB); cavalli con scuotimento della testa: ipoacusia neurosensoriale di basso grado (pars ossea di II grado su entrambi i lati, timpani visibili, estensione significativa V, I-III, I-V, 40 dB); cavalli con nervosismo e patologie oculari: ipoacusia neurosensoriale moderata (otoscopia normale, prolungamento significativo di tutte le onde e delle latenze interpuntive a sinistra, I-V, III-V a destra, 60 dB, velocità di conduzione della via uditiva patologica nel tronco encefalico); cavalli di razza americana: sordità neurosensoriale (otoscopia normale, linea isoelettrica di ABR su entrambi i lati, 80 dB). Le onde I, III e V prolungate e le latenze interpicco I-III, I-V e III-V nei cavalli sottoposti a laparotomia sono associate a una riduzione della pressione arteriosa (62 mmHg, mediana) durante l’anestesia generale e indicano ipotensione nel tronco encefalico. Durante l’anestesia generale, l’audiometria del tronco encefalico offre un’opportunità speciale per rilevare le disfunzioni del tronco encefalico, per regolare la pressione arteriosa e per garantire una posizione in piedi senza problemi con equilibrio uditivo e visivo della postura dopo l’anestesia generale.
Publication Date: 2024-07-08 PubMed ID: 38975650DOI: 10.17236/sat00428Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

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This research article details a diagnostic examination of horses experiencing hearing loss to identify the nature and causes of the hearing impairment, using brainstem auditory evoked responses (BAER). The research also finds a possible correlation between hearing loss and an imbalance in body movements post-general anesthesia due to low arterial blood pressure.

Research Methods and Sample Selection

  • The research utilized the brainstem auditory evoked response (BAER) technique to determine the type and cause of hearing loss in horses.
  • The sample included horses suffering from ailments such as external otitis, head trauma, headshaking, tinnitus, and eye diseases leading to erratic behavior.
  • Additionally, the study also encompassed horses undergoing colic surgery who experienced decreased arterial blood pressure during the course of the general anesthesia.
  • Each of these horses was subjected to otoscopic examination prior to the BAER. Horses with the external otitis condition showed signs of obstruction in the ear canal with exudate and invisible eardrums, indicating possible hearing impairment.

Findings and Outcome of the Study

  • The study diagnosed varying degrees of hearing loss in the horses examined depending on their condition. While horses with external otitis or head trauma exhibited moderate to severe conductive hearing loss, horses with headshaking showed a mild sensorineural hearing loss.
  • Horses with chronic eye diseases causing skittish behavior displayed moderate sensorineural hearing loss. Furthermore, the American paint horses exhibited sensorineural deafness, a complete inability to hear.
  • The study also found a relationship between arterial blood pressure and body imbalance post-surgery. Prolonged latencies during general anesthesia related to low arterial blood pressure indicated potential brainstem hypotension as well.

Implications of the Research

  • The findings revealed that BAER can potentially be used as a technical tool during general anesthesia. It can help to normalize the arterial blood pressure and restore appropriate brainstem function, thus preventing the imbalance of body movements after the surgery.
  • Besides indicating the cause and type of the hearing loss in horses, the study also uncovered the role of blood pressure and anesthetic procedures in exacerbating or inducing hearing impairments.
  • The outcome of the research can help in devising treatment plans for horses suffering from varied types of hearing loss and in managing general anesthesia better to prevent side-effects.

Cite This Article

APA
Kuhlmann C, Scheidemann W, Bachmann M, Schusser GF. (2024). [Brainstem auditory evoked responses in horses with hearing loss and during general anesthesia]. Schweiz Arch Tierheilkd, 166(7), 379-392. https://doi.org/10.17236/sat00428

Publication

ISSN: 1664-2848
NlmUniqueID: 0424247
Country: Switzerland
Language: ger
Volume: 166
Issue: 7
Pages: 379-392

Researcher Affiliations

Kuhlmann, Ch
  • Tierärztliches Kompetenzzentrum Karthaus, Dülmen.
Scheidemann, W
  • Tierärztliches Kompetenzzentrum Karthaus, Dülmen.
Bachmann, M
  • Institut für Agrar- und Ernährungswissenschaften, Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg.
Schusser, G F
  • Medizinische Tierklinik, Veterinärmedizinische Fakultät, Universität Leipzig, Deutschland.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Horses
  • Evoked Potentials, Auditory, Brain Stem / physiology
  • Horse Diseases / physiopathology
  • Anesthesia, General / veterinary
  • Anesthesia, General / adverse effects
  • Hearing Loss / veterinary
  • Hearing Loss / physiopathology
  • Hearing Loss / etiology