Current concepts in acute vestibular syndrome and video-oculography

Abstract

Purpose of review We present here neuro-otological tests using portable video-oculography (VOG) and strategies assisting physicians in the process of decision making beyond the classical 'HINTS' testing battery at the bedside. Recent findings Patients with acute vestibular syndrome (AVS) experience dizziness, gait unsteadiness and nausea/vomiting. A variety of causes can lead to this condition, including strokes. These patients cannot be adequately identified with the conventional approach by stratifying based on risk factors and symptom type. In addition to bedside methods such as HINTS and HINTS plus, quantitative methods for recording eye movements using VOG can augment the ability to diagnose and localize the lesion. In particular, the ability to identify and quantify the head impulse test (VOR gain, saccade metrics), nystagmus characteristics (waveform, beating direction and intensity), skew deviation, audiometry and lateropulsion expands our diagnostic capabilities. In addition to telemedicine, algorithms and artificial intelligence can be used to support emergency physicians and nonexperts in the future. Summary VOG, telemedicine and artificial intelligence may assist physicians in the diagnostic process of AVS patients.