What Researchers Did
Researchers conducted a retrospective chart review to determine if pretreatment with intranasal fluticasone and oxymetazoline reduced middle ear barotrauma incidence during hyperbaric oxygen therapy.
What They Found
The incidence of middle ear barotrauma was 15.4% in the fluticasone/oxymetazoline treatment group and 16.2% in the no-treatment group, a difference that was not statistically significant (p = 0.636). Treatment pressure, age over 65 years, male sex, and BMI were also not associated with a difference in barotrauma incidence.
What This Means for Canadian Patients
For Canadian patients undergoing hyperbaric oxygen therapy, this study suggests that pretreatment with intranasal fluticasone and oxymetazoline may not significantly prevent middle ear barotrauma. Patients should consult their healthcare providers about alternative or proven strategies for barotrauma prevention.
Canadian Relevance
There is no direct Canadian connection or data mentioned in this study.
Study Limitations
A key limitation of this study is its retrospective design, which relies on existing medical records and may have inherent biases.