Three new strategies to improve the accuracy of monothermal caloric screening testing.

Objective: The objective was to find a way to estimate the value of inter-ear difference (IED) through monothermal caloric screening testing (MCST) that can be used at any laboratory, controlling and minimising the resulting error.

Methods: We retrospectively included in this study 2304 patients from our department to whom a videonystagmography with caloric testing was performed between 2003 and 2011. The IED was calculated in 3 different ways: Using the values of the 4 caloric stimulations (bithermal form) and using only the 2 same-temperature values (warm monothermal and cool monothermal forms).

[Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo: analysis of our population and role of caloric tests].

Introduction And Objectives: Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) is the most common cause of vertigo in those patients who seek medical care. Although videonystagmography seems the most indicated diagnostic test, we tried to decrease the requested caloric tests to optimise resources and reduce associated costs.

Methods: We developed a diagnostic-therapeutic algorithm for patients with suspected BPPV whose provocation tests are positive to evaluate the need for caloric testing.