Audiology Research Webinar | The Latest News on the Approach and Prevention of Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo - BPPV
the chair
Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV) is among the most common vestibular disorders, characterized by brief vertigo spells triggered by head position changes with abrupt onset and rapid decrease. BPPV is ascribed to otoconial matter dislodged from the utricular macula and attached to the cupula of the affected semicircular canal (cupulolithiasis) or free-floating within its lumen (canalolithiasis).
According to the vestibulo-ocular reflex pathophysiology, each cupular deflection, either exciting or inhibiting the corresponding ampullary afferents, generates the contraction of specific extraocular muscle couples, leading to pathognomonic nystagmus.
The Upright BPPV Protocol (UBP) is a diagnostic approach to BPPV conducted in the sitting position, slowly bending the patient's head along a spatial axis, aiming to move canaliths by gravity within the involved semicircular canal, under continuous nystagmus monitoring using video-Frenzel goggles.
UBP starts with the evaluation of pseudo-spontaneous nystagmus in the primary gaze position and continues with the upright Head Pitch Test (uHPT), which consists of forward and backward head bending along the pitch plane. The uHPT can indicate whether the horizontal or vertical semicircular canal is involved. If the horizontal canal is suspected, the upright Head Roll Test (uHRT) usually provides the diagnosis of the involved side and arm via tilting the patient's head rightward and leftward along the roll plane. Conversely, canalolithiasis involving the posterior semicircular canal can be diagnosed with the uHPT alone. Nevertheless, if necessary, the diagnostic sensitivity can be increased through introducing head movements along the right anterior—left posterior (RALP) and left anterior—right posterior (LARP) canal planes (uRALP/uLARP test).
Following the UBP, most BPPV forms can be diagnosed in the upright position, allowing clinicians to proceed immediately with proper physical treatment and avoiding unpleasant manoeuvres to patients.
Date: 17 February 2024 at 4:30 pm CET | 9:30 am CST | 10:30 am EDT | 11:30 pm CST Asia
Webinar ID: 883 8972 3026
Webinar Secretariat: journal.webinar@mdpi.com
Meet the Event Chair
Meet Our Speakers
Dr. Salvatore Martellucci
Otorhinolaryngology Unit, Santa Maria Goretti Hospital, AUSL, Latina, Italy;
Dr. Salvatore Martellucci graduated in Medicine in 2009 and specialized in ORL-HNS in 2015 at the "Sapienza" University of Rome. At the same university, he obtained a Master's Degree in Implantable Auditory Prostheses in 2016 and a PhD in Advanced Technologies in Surgery in 2020. He also received the Postgraduate Specialization in Sleep-Related Breathing Disorders issued by the Italian Association of Sleep Medicine and the Italian Society of Otorhinolaryngology.
He worked as a research assistant at the Department of Medico-Surgical Sciences and Biotechnologies and later at the Department of Sense Organs of the "Sapienza" University of Rome. He is currently working as consultant at the ENT Unit of "Santa Maria Goretti" Hospital in Latina (Italy), where he deals with functional and oncological surgery and is head of the neurotology outpatient clinic.
He teaches at the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery and the Graduate School in ORL-HNS of the "Sapienza" University of Rome.
Dr. Martellucci is a member of the Italian Society of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery (SIOeCHCF), the Italian Society of Vestibology (VIS), and the Bárány Society. He is involved in research activities mainly in the neurological field as an author of scientific publications and as a member of the editorial board of international scientific journals.
Dr. Andrea Castellucci
ENT Unit, Department of Surgery, Azienda USL—IRCCS di Reggio Emilia, Reggio Emilia, Italy;
Dr. Andrea Castellucci has grown up with the otoneurological group of the University of Bologna (Italy), where he graduated as MD in 2008 and specialized in ORL-HNS in 2014. He is currently working as a consultant at the ENT Department of AUSL – IRCCS in Reggio Emilia (Italy), where he is involved in medical and surgical activities. As head of the otoneurological outpatient clinic, in collaboration with the neurology and emergency departments, he is involved in research activities in the otoneurological field with other national and international departments and universities. He is a guest editor for special issues and collections as well as a reviewer and author of publications in national and international scientific journals. He is also speaker at national and international congresses, seminars, and webinars.
Dr. Rudi Pecci
Audiology Clinic, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Careggi, Florence, Italy;
Dr. Rudi Pecci studied at the University of Florence, where he graduated as MD in 2004 and specialized in Audiology and Phoniatrics in 2008. In 2012, he obtained a PhD in the conservative and reparative surgery of the head and neck at the same university. Since the same year, he has been working as a medical manager in the Hospital Departmental Unit of Audiology, Oncological and Robotic Head and Neck Surgery, dealing with audiology, oto-neuro-ophthalmology and oto-surgery.
He teaches in the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery of the University of Florence at the Postgraduate School in Neurology and at the School of Human Health Sciences for the Speech Therapy Course.
He carries out research in the oto-neuro-ophthalmological field; he attends as a speaker at congresses, seminars, and webinars; and he is an author and reviewer of publications in scientific journals.
He is a member of the Vestibology Italian Society and the Bárány Society.
Sponsors and Partners
Organizer
On Saturday 17th February 2024, MDPI and Audiology Research organized a webinar on the topic of "The Latest News on the Approach and Prevention of Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo—BPPV".
The first two speakers discussed how to approach a patient suffering from BPPV according to a minimally invasive approach called the "Minimum Stimulus Strategy". In essence, this is a nystagmus-based strategy, usable in both diagnostic and therapeutic approaches.
The third speaker explained how to prevent high-recurrence BPPV by correcting vitamin D deficiency and oxidative stress.
Please note that this webinar is associated with a Special Issue in the journal Audiology Research entitled “The Vestibular System: Physiology and Testing Methods”, and the deadline for manuscript submissions is the 30th of June 2024.
The webinar was hosted on Zoom and required prior registration to attend. The full recording can be found below. In order to learn more about future webinars, you can sign up for our newsletter by clicking “Subscribe” at the top of the page.
The Vestibular System: Physiology and Testing Methods
Guest Editors: Dr. Giacinto Asprella Libonati, Prof. Dr. Herman Kingma, and Prof. Dr. Vito Enrico Pettorossi
Deadline for Manuscript Submissions: 30 June 2024