What Researchers Did
Researchers compared the effectiveness of two different hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) protocols, one session per day for 10 days versus two sessions per day for 5 days, in 55 patients with severe and profound idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss (ISSNHL) who also received intratympanic steroid therapy.
What They Found
Among 55 patients, 27 received one HBOT session daily for 10 days, and 28 received two HBOT sessions daily for 5 days, both alongside intratympanic prednisolone. The study found no significant differences in hearing outcomes between the two protocols, indicating that the twice-daily HBOT protocol was equally effective.
What This Means for Canadian Patients
For Canadian patients with severe and profound sudden hearing loss receiving intratympanic steroids, this study suggests that a shorter, more intensive hyperbaric oxygen therapy schedule (two sessions daily for 5 days) could be as effective as a longer, less intensive one (one session daily for 10 days). This could potentially offer a more convenient treatment option without compromising outcomes.
Canadian Relevance
This study was not conducted in Canada and does not have a direct Canadian connection.
Study Limitations
A limitation of this study is its relatively small sample size of 55 patients, which may limit the generalizability of the findings.