Methods for preventing middle ear barotrauma in computer-controlled pressurization of monoplace hyperbaric chambers

Area of Science:

• Hyperbaric Medicine
• Otolaryngology
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Middle ear barotrauma (MEB) is a common side effect of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO2) therapy.
• Diagnosis of MEB often relies on subjective patient reports, complicating real-time management.
• Existing methods for preventing MEB during therapy are insufficient.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate a novel prevention algorithm for MEB during HBO2 therapy.
• To assess the efficacy of an automatic control chamber system integrated with tympanic admittance monitoring.
• To determine if the proposed system can prevent MEB in patients undergoing HBO2 therapy.

Main Methods:

• An experimental study involving 100 subjects undergoing HBO2 therapy.
• A control group received conventional HBO2 therapy, while an experimental group used a system with an automatic control chamber and a tympanic admittance-based algorithm.
• The algorithm determined and equalized pressure based on tympanic admittance, especially when patients could not perform equalization maneuvers.

Main Results:

• 16 out of 50 subjects in the control group developed MEB.
• None of the 50 subjects in the experimental group experienced MEB.
• The automatic system successfully adjusted chamber pressure according to the algorithm, achieving therapeutic targets without causing MEB.

Conclusions:

• The proposed algorithm and automatic control chamber system are effective in preventing MEB during HBO2 therapy.
• Tympanic admittance monitoring provides an objective measure for real-time pressure adjustment, enhancing patient safety.
• This approach offers a promising solution for mitigating a significant side effect of hyperbaric treatments.