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Middle Ear Barotrauma in Student Pilots.
Jung Heob Sohn1, Kyoung Rai Cho
1Department of Otorhinolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Sanggye Paik Hospital, College of Medicine, Inje University, Seoul, Korea.
Aerospace Medicine and Human Performance
|May 19, 2017
Summary
Middle ear barotrauma in student pilots is often unilateral and associated with nasal symptoms like stuffy nose. While most cases resolve within a week, some pilots experience persistent or recurring ear barotrauma.
Area of Science:
- Aerospace Medicine
- Otolaryngology
- Pilot Health
Background:
- Middle ear barotrauma (MEB) is a risk for pilots, particularly during training.
- Understanding MEB clinical features in student pilots is crucial for aviation safety.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the clinical characteristics of middle ear barotrauma in Republic of Korea Air Force student pilots.
- To evaluate the relationship between nasal airway conditions and middle ear barotrauma.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of medical records for student pilots diagnosed with barotrauma.
- Classification of barotrauma severity using Teed's classification.
- Assessment of nasal symptoms, endoscopic nasal findings, and clinical outcomes.
Main Results:
- 57 cases in 51 pilots were analyzed; 86% were unilateral.
- Common symptoms included ear fullness (100%), persistent ear pain (33.3%), stuffy nose (45.6%), and rhinorrhea (42.1%).
- Turbinate hypertrophy (93%) and increased nasal discharge (57.9%) were prevalent; barotrauma severity correlated with nasal findings.
Conclusions:
- Nasal symptoms and endoscopic findings are associated with the severity and duration of middle ear barotrauma.
- While most cases resolve quickly, some student pilots experience persistent or recurrent barotrauma.
- Addressing nasal airway issues may be important in managing barotrauma in this population.
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