title: ENT function in a 14-days guinness scuba dive.
abstract: Scuba diving is known to affect the rhino-pharyngo-tubaric district (RPT unit). The aim of the study was to document function modifications of the RPT unit in 6 Italian divers (3 men and 3 women) who lived for 14 days consecutively at a depth of 8-10 m, breathing air (21% oxygen) at a pressure ranging between 1.8 and 2 ATA. RPT and inner ear assessment were carried out before the dive (TIME 0) and 24 h (TIME 1) after resurfacing, in order to investigate diving-related RPT and inner ear alterations. Physical examination after resurfacing revealed: fungal external otitis, otoscopic findings consistent with middle ear barotraumas and rhinosinusitis. Rhino-manometry showed a remarkable increase in inspiratory nasal flow and a substantial decrease in nasal resistance. No epithelial cell disruption was retrieved comparing pre and post resurfacing samples. Post-diving tubaric dysfunction was found. Pure tone audiometry revealed a bilateral 40 dB HL hearing loss at 4 kHz in 1 diver. Relevant PTA functions did not seem to be affected by the experiment, no remarkable changes were found at the Sensory Organisation Test and at the Motor Control Test. The 14-day underwater period had a positive effect on nasal flows and resistances.
authors.affiliation: Endocrine Surgery Unit, Catholic University of Rome, Italy. lucarevelli@rm.unicatt.it
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Revelli
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: D'Alatri
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Scorpecci
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: D'Amore
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: De Corso
authors.forename: C P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Lombardi
authors.forename: A R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Fetoni
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000403:Airway Resistance / Q000502:physiology; D001301:Audiometry, Pure-Tone; D001469:Barotrauma / Q000209:etiology; D004242:Diving / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000502:physiology*; D004432:Ear, Middle / Q000293:injuries; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D034381:Hearing Loss / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D008365:Manometry / Q000379:methods; D009666:Nose / Q000502:physiology*; D010032:Otitis Externa / Q000209:etiology; D038781:Otoscopy; D012220:Rhinitis / Q000209:etiology; D012852:Sinusitis / Q000209:etiology; D013997:Time Factors