Ear, Nose, and Throat (Otolaryngology) often gets squeezed into a short clinical rotation, leaving students scrambling to master complex anatomy and specialized instruments in record time. It’s a field of “small spaces and big consequences.” Missing a peritonsillar abscess or mismanaging a case of stridor isn’t just a minor error—it’s a critical safety issue.
Below is the exam paper download link
Past Paper On Ear Nose And Throat For Revision
Above is the exam paper download link
The best way to stop second-guessing your diagnoses is to see how the examiners frame their “red flag” scenarios. By practicing with a dedicated ENT past paper, you’ll learn to differentiate between a simple sore throat and a surgical emergency.
[Download the Ear, Nose, and Throat (ENT) Past Paper Here]
High-Yield Revision Q&A: Navigating the Upper Aerodigestive Tract
Question 1: The “Hot Potato” Voice and Peritonsillar Abscess
Q: A 19-year-old presents with severe unilateral throat pain, drooling, and “hot potato” speech. On examination, the uvula is deviated to the left. What is the immediate management?
A: This is a classic Peritonsillar Abscess (Quinsy). The deviation of the uvula to the opposite side is a pathognomonic sign. The immediate management involves needle aspiration or incision and drainage (I&D), followed by intravenous antibiotics and hydration. Always monitor the airway, as significant swelling can lead to obstruction.
Question 2: Epistaxis Management – Front to Back
Q: An elderly patient on aspirin arrives with a nosebleed that hasn’t stopped after 20 minutes of firm pressure. What is the stepped approach to management?
A: 1. Trotter’s Method: Pinch the soft part of the nose and lean forward for 10–15 minutes. 2. Vasoconstrictors: Use topical adrenaline or phenylephrine. 3. Cautery: If the bleeding point is visible (usually in Little’s Area on the septum), use silver nitrate cautery. 4. Anterior Packing: If cautery fails, insert a nasal tampon or ribbon gauze. 5. Posterior Packing: If blood is still dripping down the throat despite anterior packing, a posterior pack or Foley catheter is required.
Question 3: Chronic Otitis Media and the “Unsafe” Ear
Q: What features on otoscopy distinguish a “safe” mucosal chronic otitis media from an “unsafe” squamous chronic otitis media?
A: * Safe Ear: Characterized by a central perforation of the tympanic membrane. The discharge is usually mucoid and non-foul smelling.
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Unsafe Ear: Characterized by an attic or marginal perforation, often associated with cholesteatoma (a keratinizing squamous epithelium growth). This is “unsafe” because it can erode bone, leading to intracranial complications like brain abscesses or facial nerve palsy.
Question 4: Foreign Bodies in the Airway vs. Esophagus
Q: A 3-year-old is brought in after swallowing a coin. How do you tell if the coin is in the trachea or the esophagus based on an X-ray?
A: Look at the orientation of the coin on an AP (Anterior-Posterior) view:
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Esophagus: The coin usually appears as a full circle (face-on) because the esophagus is collapsed anterior-posteriorly.
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Trachea: The coin appears end-on (a vertical line) because it must fit between the C-shaped tracheal rings.
Pro-Tips for Your ENT Exam
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Master the Tuning Fork Tests: You will be asked about Weber and Rinne tests. Remember: In conductive hearing loss, the Weber test lateralizes to the affected ear. In sensorineural loss, it lateralizes to the healthy ear.
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The Stridor Emergency: If a question describes a child with a “barking cough” or “inspiratory stridor,” think of Croup or Epiglottitis. Never examine the throat of a child with suspected epiglottitis with a tongue depressor—it can trigger total airway closure.
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Anatomy is King: Know your cranial nerves, especially those passing through the middle ear (CN VII) and those providing sensation to the throat (CN IX and X).
Ready to Ace Your Finals?
The difference between feeling overwhelmed and feeling prepared is a solid study plan. Download the past paper, set a timer for 90 minutes, and see how you handle the clinical vignettes.
