What Researchers Did
Researchers prospectively collected data over one year from 106 patients undergoing hyperbaric oxygen therapy to identify independent risk factors for middle ear barotrauma.
What They Found
The cumulative risk of middle ear barotrauma (MEBT) was 35.8% over the first five treatments, with 10.3% of patients needing tympanostomy tubes during this period. A history of difficulty equalizing was significantly associated with MEBT (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 11.0). Being female (AOR 24.7) and having a history of cardiovascular disease (AOR 20.7) were significantly associated with the need for tympanostomy tubes during the first five hyperbaric oxygen therapy sessions.
What This Means for Canadian Patients
Canadian patients undergoing hyperbaric oxygen therapy may benefit from pre-screening for risk factors like a history of difficulty equalizing, being female, or having cardiovascular disease. Identifying these patients could allow for proactive measures to prevent middle ear barotrauma or the need for tympanostomy tubes.
Canadian Relevance
This study has no direct Canadian connection.
Study Limitations
The study's findings may be limited by its single-center design and the relatively small sample size, potentially affecting the generalizability of the results.