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83rd Annual Meeting of the German Society of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, Head and Neck Surgery

German Society of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, Head and Neck Surgery

16.05. - 20.05.2012, Mainz

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Hyperbaric oxygenation for treatment of hearing loss and tinnitus

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  • corresponding author Katya Assenova - ENT Clinic, Military Medical Academy, Sofia, Bulgaria
  • Ventsislav Tsvetkov - Military Medical Academy, Sofia, Bulgaria
  • Stefan Stoyanov - Ministry of Interior Medical institute, Sofia, Bulgaria

Deutsche Gesellschaft für Hals-Nasen-Ohren-Heilkunde, Kopf- und Hals-Chirurgie. 83. Jahresversammlung der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Hals-Nasen-Ohren-Heilkunde, Kopf- und Hals-Chirurgie. Mainz, 16.-20.05.2012. Düsseldorf: German Medical Science GMS Publishing House; 2012. Doc12hnod355

doi: 10.3205/12hnod355, urn:nbn:de:0183-12hnod3553

Published: April 4, 2012

© 2012 Assenova et al.
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Outline

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Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) is the medical use of oxygen at a level higher than atmospheric pressure. A related effect is the increased oxygen transport capacity of the blood. Patients with sudden hearing loss and tinnitus may have benefit from this treatment, because hypoxia is in fact main reason for inner ear damage.

Aim: To asses the role of HBOT in cases with hearing loss and tinnitus as adjuvant therapy.

Material and methods: 46 patients with SHL and tinnitus divided on two groups: Group I - treated only with medications and group II – with medications and HBOT. Average pure tone hearing levels (0.5, 1, 2 and 4KHz) were determined before and 2 weeks after treatment.

Results: HL improved by more than 20 dB in 32 % of the first group, and 54 % of the second group. Tinnitus intensity was reduced in 47 % in first group, and 72 % in second group. All patients had no adverse effects from the therapy.

Conclusion: Our results prove that HBOT as adjuvant therapy is a reliable method for treatment of sudden hearing loss and tinnitus.