The
efficacy of hyperbaric oxygen in the treatment of acute acoustic trauma is
unclear.
Clinical Bottom Line:
1.
Poorly reported trial cannot be evaluated.
Appraised
by: Mike Bennett, Dept of Diving and
Hyperbaric Medicine, Prince of Wales Hospital
Sydney; Wednesday, 27 January,
1999
Clinical
Scenario: A patient with acute hearing
loss following acoustic trauma.
Three-part
Question: For patients with acute
acoustic trauma, does the addition of hyperbaric oxygen to the standard
treatment regime result in any improvement in final hearing or reduction in
tinnitus?
Search
Terms: Hyperbaric oxygenation,
trauma/acoustic.
The
Study:
Double-blinded randomised
controlled trial.
Patients with hearing loss 40dB
following acoustic trauma within 48 hours and without improvement greater than
20dB after 24 hours in the absence of therapy.
Control group (N = ;
analysed): Unknown.
Experimental group (N = ;
analysed): Unknown
The
Evidence:
Not
given.
Comments:
1. Results and methodology not
clearly reported.
2. Text suggests that hyperbaric
oxygen may be of some additional benefit, but supporting results not given.
Expiry
date:
July 2002
References:
1. Pilgramm M. Clinical and animal experiment studies to
optimise the therapy for acute acoustic trauma. Scandinavian Audiology (Suppl)
1991; 34:103-122.
