[Hyperbaric oxygenation in early treatment of sudden deafness].
BACKGROUND
The treatment of sudden deafness with hyperbaric oxygenation (HBO) is a new method, which is a routine application in some German centers and subject to contraindications can be assessed as relatively reliable.


METHODS
In a retrospective study, data were analyzed from 49 patients who had received primary HBO therapy because of sudden deafness (up to 3 weeks old). In comparison to the standard infusion therapy according to Michel, the primary HBO therapy led to inferior results (no change in hearing: right ear 63.88%, left ear 60.98%; improvement in hearing: right ear 22.49%, left ear 21.71%; decrease in hearing: right ear 13.64%, left ear 17.32%).


RESULTS
Considering the spontaneous remission of sudden deafness, neither the results of the infusion therapy nor those of the hyperbaric oxygenation surpass the rate of complete spontaneous remission. On the basis of our research, primary treatment of "fresh" sudden deafness with hyperbaric oxygenation cannot be recommended.


CONCLUSIONS
The question remains open whether HBO as a secondary treatment for sudden deafness leads to improvements for the patient after unsuccessful standard therapy.
Kestler
M
M
Institut für Anästhesie und Intensivmedizin, Klinikum St. Elisabeth Straubing GmbH, St.-Elisabeth-Str. 23, 94315 Straubing. markus.kestler@t-online.de
Strutz
J
J
Heiden
C
C
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001301:Audiometry, Pure-Tone; D005260:Female; D003639:Hearing Loss, Sudden / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D006931:Hyperbaric Oxygenation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; D012075:Remission, Spontaneous; D012189:Retrospective Studies