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- Title
Is there a difference between active opening of the Eustachian tube in a hypobaric surrounding compared to a hyperbaric surrounding?
- Authors
Mikolajczak, Stefanie; Meyer, Moritz Friedo; Felsch, Moritz; Jumah, Masen Dirk; Hüttenbrink, Karl-Bernd; Grosheva, Maria; Luers, Jan-Christoffer; Beutner, Dirk
- Abstract
Introduction: The Eustachian tube (ET) is the key to pressure equalization between the middle ear and ambient pressure. To date, little is known about differences of the opening mechanisms under hyper- or hypobaric conditions. Aim of this study was to compare standard ET opening parameters during standardized hypo- and hyperbaric exposures. Methods: Thirty healthy participants were exposed to a standardized profile of decompression and compression (SPDC) in a hypo-/hyperbaric pressure chamber. Impedance, expressed as tympanic membrane compliance, was recorded at intervals during the excursions from 1 atmosphere absolute (atm abs) to 0.8 and 1.2 atm abs respectively. Parameters for tubal opening were obtained during SPDC: ET opening pressure (ETOP), ET opening duration (ETOD) and ET opening frequency (ETOF), hypobaric (Phase 1) and hyperbaric (Phase 2) data were compared. Results: Mean value for Valsalva maneuver ETOP was 40.10 ± 19.02 mbar in Phase 2 vs. 42.82 ± 21.75 mbar in Phase 1. For ETOD it was 2.80 ± 2.09 seconds in Phase 2 vs. 2.51 ± 1.90 seconds in Phase 1. For swallowing, mean value for ETOP was 33.47 ± 14.50 mbar in Phase 2 vs. 28.44 ± 14.04 in Phase 1. ETOD was 0.82 ± 0.60 seconds in Phase 2 vs. 0.76 ± 0.55 seconds in Phase 1. There was no statistical significance for ETOP, ETOD and ETOF between the two phases. Conclusion: No statistical significant difference was evident for active pressure equalization (Valsalva and swallowing) between a hyperbaric setting (dive) and a hypobaric setting (flight) in healthy subjects.
- Subjects
EUSTACHIAN tube; TYMPANIC membrane; HYPOBARIC chambers; MIDDLE ear; HYPERBARIC chambers
- Publication
Undersea & Hyperbaric Medicine, 2015, Vol 42, Issue 6, p593
- ISSN
1066-2936
- Publication type
Article