ObjectiveTo explore the reasonable path of caloric test in videonystagmography examination.
MethodsPatients who received the videonystagmography examination in Xi'an Central Hospital were retrospectively analyzed. Using caloric test as standard, sensitivity, false negative rate, specificity and false positive rate of single temperature test were calculated and compared. Data was analyzed using SPSS 13.0 software.
ResultsA total of 263 patients were included. In all subjects, the sensitivity of single hot test was 81.7%, which was higher than single cold one. The false negative rate was 18.3%, which was lower than single cold one. There were significant differences in the rate between both methods (P < 0.05). In patients accompanied with spontaneous nystagmus, the sensitivity of single hot test was 90.8%, which was the highest; the false negative rate was 9.2%, which was the lowest. There were significant differences in the rate between both methods (P < 0.05).
ConclusionCold or warm water (gas) perfusion could be conducted in the reasonable path of caloric test as follows: heat stimulation of the affected side, heat stimulation of the normal side, cold stimulation of the affected side, and cold stimulation of the normal side. If the patients are unable to tolerate caloric test, the results of single hot test could be used as reference.
