title: Hyperbaric oxygen for idiopathic sudden hearing loss: is the routine application helpful?
abstract: CONCLUSIONS
  We recommend the routine application of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) in conjunction with intravenous steroid (IVS) for all patients with idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss (ISSNHL). For best results, this therapy must be started within 14 days.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the necessity of routine application of HBO therapy for ISSNHL.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a retrospective cohort study. A total of 300 patients (300 diseased ears) were divided into 3 groups according to the therapy received: IVS (group A), HBO (group B), or IVS + HBO (group C). Patients in each treatment group were subdivided into subgroups according to the time of therapy initiation. The outcomes of their hearing recovery were classified into three recovery grades: good, fair, and poor.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The proportion of patients responding to therapy and those with complete recovery was the highest in the combined treatment group, 84% and 58%, respectively, regardless of the initial hearing levels. In all the groups, mean gains of cases in whom therapy was started in the first 2 weeks were significantly higher (p < 0.05) and hypercholesterolemia (>240 mg/dl) caused significantly worse responses (p < 0.05).
authors: Department of Otorhinolaryngology.
authors: Luigi
authors: L
authors: Capuano
authors: Matteo
authors: M
authors: Cavaliere
authors: Giuseppe
authors: G
authors: Parente
authors: Alberto
authors: A
authors: Damiano
authors: Gabriella
authors: G
authors: Pezzuti
authors: Dante
authors: D
authors: Lopardo
authors: Maurizio
authors: M
authors: Iemma
mesh_terms: D061605:Administration, Intravenous; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001299:Audiometry; D005260:Female; D006319:Hearing Loss, Sensorineural / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D003639:Hearing Loss, Sudden / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D006931:Hyperbaric Oxygenation; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000150:complications; D008297:Male; D008775:Methylprednisolone / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008875:Middle Aged; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D008775:Methylprednisolone
keywords: Sudden sensorineural hearing loss; hearing outcome; intravenous steroid