We found a match
Your institution may have access to this item. Find your institution then sign in to continue.
- Title
Acute Barotitis Media in Flight: Pathophysiology, Symptoms, Prevention, Treatment.
- Authors
FYNTANAKI, Ourania; ALEVITSOVITIS, George; ANGELAKIS, Leonidas; MOUTEVELIS, Vasileios
- Abstract
Acute barotitis media or aerotitis media is one of the most prevalent medical issues caused during flight. This is the reason that the incidence of aerotitis media increases not only among aviation crews but among common travelers due to the increasing airplane transportation. Its pathophysiology is completely explained by Βoyle’s law, since the gas volumes in our body and in the airplane cabin change during the flight. In fact, the problem is caused by the dysfunction of equilibrium between the air in the middle ear and the surrounding environment. The main symptoms are severe otic pain and partial hearing loss, mainly during the descent. There are many predisposing factors for this medical condition such as a concomitant upper respiratory infection. Many preventive measures can be used to avoid otic barotrauma, like the Valsalva maneuver. The treatment is generally symptomatic, but there are also ongoing relevant research projects.
- Subjects
AURAL barotrauma; FLIGHT crews; PATHOLOGICAL physiology; DISEASES
- Publication
Balkan Military Medical Review, 2013, Vol 16, Issue 1, p50
- ISSN
1107-6275
- Publication type
Article