[Treatment of acute cochleovestibular damage after diving]

There has been a steady in-crease of recreational scuba divers in the last years. The majority of diving associated diseases involve otorhinolaryngology, the most important of which are cochleovestibular dysfunctions as these can lead to permanent inner ear failure.

We discuss the origin and clinical symptoms, as well as the therapy, of both inner ear barotrauma and inner ear decompression illness. Our own experiences are considered together with a review of the literature from the last decade.

Inner ear decompression illness seems to be a relatively common diving associated incident and is not as rare as previously thought.

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is the treatment of choice for patients with inner ear decompression sickness, but is contraindicated in patients with inner ear barotrauma. As long as an inner ear decompression illness can not be ruled out, we suggest that every patient should be treated using hyperbaric oxygen therapy but only after bilateral paracentesis.