[Hyperbaric oxygen treatment in sudden hearing loss after unsuccessful medical treatment].
OBJECTIVE
We evaluated the efficacy of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) treatment in patients with sudden hearing loss unresponsive to medical treatment.


METHODS
Fifty-one patients (37 males, 14 females; mean age 37 years; range 9 to 63 years) with sudden hearing loss were treated with HBO following unsuccessful medical treatment. Time elapsed from the occurrence of sudden hearing loss ranged between 15 to 45 days. Treatment included two sessions daily for the first three days, followed by a single daily session, to make 20 sessions of 90 minutes. Treatment was discontinued because of early recovery in two patients. Audiometric examinations were made at the end of every five sessions. The patients were classified according to age, gender, and audiogram curves.


RESULTS
The mean hearing thresholds were 75.3 dB and 65.6 dB before and after treatment, respectively. Recovery was rated as complete in two patients (3.9%), moderate in two patients (3.9%), mild in 19 patients (37.25%), and as no recovery in 28 patients (54.9%). No significant differences were found between the patient groups in terms of improvement and hearing gain (p>0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
We propose that HBO be resorted to when other means of medical treatment prove unsuccessful in patients with sudden hearing loss.
Inci
Ender
E
Department of Otolaryngology, Medicine Faculty of Cerrahpaşa, Istanbul University, Turkey. enderinci@hotmail.com
Erişir
Ferhat
F
Ada
Mehmet
M
Oztürk
Ozcan
O
Güçlü
Ender
E
Oktem
Fatih
F
Toprak
Murat
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001299:Audiometry; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D003639:Hearing Loss, Sudden / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D006931:Hyperbaric Oxygenation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010100:Oxygen / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D010100:Oxygen