OHPによるMiddle Ear Barotraumaの評価

抄録

Subjective and objective signs and symptoms of middle ear barotrauma during hyperbaric oxyganation therapy (OHP) were investigated in 67 patients. The patients were classified on the basis of otoscopic examination into 5 groups.
The incidence of middle ear barotraumaduring OHP assesed by objective criteria was 68.7%, and showed little variation with age or primary disease. On the other hand, the incidence assesed by subjective symptoms was lower than the objectively-based incidence in aged patients and in those with severe neurological diseases.
Patients with a traumatic grade of 2 or more showed severe symptoms. The incidence of silent patients who did not mention any symptoms but otoscopy revealed severe signs was 14.9%. This group included patients with neurological diseases in poor condition.
These results suggest that the middle ear barotrauma during OHP should be evaluated with otoscopic examination, especially in patients in poor condition.