What Researchers Did
Researchers conducted a double-blind, randomized controlled trial to assess if topical nasal decongestant prevents middle ear barotrauma in 60 patients undergoing hyperbaric oxygen therapy.
What They Found
Ear discomfort during hyperbaric oxygen therapy was similar between groups, affecting 63% (19 of 30) of patients receiving oxymetazoline and 67% (20 of 30) of the control group (P = .99). Both groups also showed similar Teed scores, indicating no significant difference in the severity of middle ear barotrauma (P = .88).
What This Means for Canadian Patients
Canadian patients undergoing hyperbaric oxygen therapy should not expect topical nasal decongestants to prevent middle ear barotrauma based on these findings. Clinicians may need to explore alternative strategies or patient education regarding ear equalization techniques for this common complication.
Canadian Relevance
This study was not conducted in Canada and therefore has no direct Canadian connection.
Study Limitations
This was a pilot study with a relatively small sample size of 60 patients, which may limit the generalizability of the findings.