Meyer, Moritz F., Boor, Manuela, Jansen, Stefanie, Pracht, Eberhard D., Felsch, Moritz, Kluenter, Heinz D., Huettenbrink, Karl-Bernd, Beutner, Dirk and Grosheva, Maria ORCID: 0000-0002-5985-468X (2017). Influence of repetitive diving in saltwater on pressure equalization and Eustachian tube function in recreational scuba divers. Diving Hyperb. Med., 47 (4). S. 216 - 223. MELBOURNE: SOUTH PACIFIC UNDERWATER MED SOC. ISSN 1833-3516

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Abstract

Introduction: We investigated in a prospective, observational trial the feasibility of using the Eustachian tube function test (ETFT) to measure the effect of repetitive pressure exposure during open seawater dives on Eustachian tube function. Methods: The study included 28 adult divers during six consecutive days of diving in the Red Sea. Participants underwent otoscopy and ETFT before the first dive, between each dive and after the last dive. ETFT included regular tympanometry (R-tymp), tympanometry after Valsalva (V-tymp) and after swallowing (S-tymp). The R-tymp was obtained as 'baseline' peak pressure. After a Valsalva, the peak pressure should shift (positively), revealing a positive shift of the tympanic membrane. This pressure shift is defined here as R-V-dP. The changes in compliance and peak pressure were recorded and correlated with otoscopic findings and diving experience. Middle ear barotrauma was scored using the Edmonds modified TEED scale. Results: The 28 participants performed 437 dives. Positive shift of pressure in the middle ear was evident with significant changes from day one to day three (P < 0.0001). Divers with barotrauma showed significantly lower values of R-tymp peak pressure and significantly higher negative R-V-dP, compared to divers with normal otoscopic findings (P < 0.05). Diving experience significantly correlated with R-tymp peak pressure and prevalence of middle ear barotrauma. Conclusion: Significant changes in middle ear pressure and pressure equalization from repeated pressure exposure in saltwater were seen using ETFT. Repetitive, multi-day diving led to significantly decreased compliance and increased R-tymp peak pressure (overpressure) in the middle ear. Most profound changes were observed in less and intermediate experienced divers.

Item Type: Journal Article
Creators:
CreatorsEmailORCIDORCID Put Code
Meyer, Moritz F.UNSPECIFIEDUNSPECIFIEDUNSPECIFIED
Boor, ManuelaUNSPECIFIEDUNSPECIFIEDUNSPECIFIED
Jansen, StefanieUNSPECIFIEDUNSPECIFIEDUNSPECIFIED
Pracht, Eberhard D.UNSPECIFIEDUNSPECIFIEDUNSPECIFIED
Felsch, MoritzUNSPECIFIEDUNSPECIFIEDUNSPECIFIED
Kluenter, Heinz D.UNSPECIFIEDUNSPECIFIEDUNSPECIFIED
Huettenbrink, Karl-BerndUNSPECIFIEDUNSPECIFIEDUNSPECIFIED
Beutner, DirkUNSPECIFIEDUNSPECIFIEDUNSPECIFIED
Grosheva, MariaUNSPECIFIEDorcid.org/0000-0002-5985-468XUNSPECIFIED
URN: urn:nbn:de:hbz:38-209446
DOI: 10.28920/dhm47.4.216-222
Journal or Publication Title: Diving Hyperb. Med.
Volume: 47
Number: 4
Page Range: S. 216 - 223
Date: 2017
Publisher: SOUTH PACIFIC UNDERWATER MED SOC
Place of Publication: MELBOURNE
ISSN: 1833-3516
Language: English
Faculty: Unspecified
Divisions: Unspecified
Subjects: no entry
Uncontrolled Keywords:
KeywordsLanguage
MIDDLE-EAR BAROTRAUMA; DISORDERS; IMPACTMultiple languages
Public, Environmental & Occupational HealthMultiple languages
Refereed: Yes
URI: http://kups.ub.uni-koeln.de/id/eprint/20944

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