title: Does the slow compression technique of hyperbaric oxygen therapy decrease the incidence of middle-ear barotrauma?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To note the incidence of middle-ear barotrauma following standard and slow compression during hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT). The standards used were: (1) less than 40 per cent of the cohort should develop barotraumas, and (2) the incidence of barotrauma following the slow technique should be less than that caused by the standard technique.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective clinical audit.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-two consecutive patients who received either standard compression or slow compression HBOT were included. Pre- and post-treatment otoscopy (graded according to a modified Teed's scale), tympanometry, audiometry and subjective ear complaints were compared between the groups and also compared with the set standard.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Significantly less middle-ear barotrauma was noted when using the slow compression technique compared with the standard compression technique (p < 0.05). The incidence of barotrauma when using standard compression failed to meet the set standard of less than 40 per cent.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The slow compression method of HBOT proved to be both safe and superior to the standard compression technique.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology & Head and Neck Surgery and the, London, UK.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Vahidova
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sen
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Papesch
authors.forename: M P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Zein-Sanchez
authors.forename: P H J
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Mueller
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001469:Barotrauma / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004432:Ear, Middle; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006931:Hyperbaric Oxygenation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014945:Wound Healing