Alternobaric vertigo in sport SCUBA divers and the risk factors

We investigated the eustachian tube function and the incidence of alternobaric vertigo (AV) in 29 sport self-contained underwater breathing apparatus (SCUBA) divers with, or without, some possible risk factors for AV. The divers had normal audiological and otoscopic findings at the pre-dive examinat...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of laryngology and otology 2003-11, Vol.117 (11), p.854-860
Main Authors: Uzun, Cem, Yagiz, Recep, Tas, Abdullah, Adali, Mustafa K., Inan, Nurkan, Koten, Muhsin, Karasalihoglu, Ahmet R.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
(RF) Otorhinolaryngology
Acoustic Impedance Tests
Adult
Biological and medical sciences
Decompression Sickness - etiology
Decompression Sickness - physiopathology
Diving
Diving - adverse effects
Ear Diseases - complications
Ear, auditive nerve, cochleovestibular tract, facial nerve: diseases, semeiology
Ears & hearing
Eustachian Tube
Eustachian Tube - physiopathology
Female
Humans
Male
Medical sciences
Meniere disease
Nervous system (semeiology, syndromes)
Nervous system as a whole
Neurology
Non tumoral diseases
Otitis Media - complications
Otolaryngology
Otorhinolaryngology. Stomatology
Risk Factors
Scuba & skin diving
Valsalva Maneuver
Vertigo
Vertigo - etiology
Vertigo - physiopathology
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Summary:We investigated the eustachian tube function and the incidence of alternobaric vertigo (AV) in 29 sport self-contained underwater breathing apparatus (SCUBA) divers with, or without, some possible risk factors for AV. The divers had normal audiological and otoscopic findings at the pre-dive examination. We used the nine-step inflation/deflation tympanometric test and Toynbee test for evaluation of eustachian tube function, and the Valsalva manoeuvre for patency. Information on divers, their history, and their otolaryngologic examination were obtained in the pre-dive examination. Divers performed 1086 dives (mean 37, range: 3–100) during the observation period. Four divers (14 per cent) experienced AV during five dives (0.46 per cent), (one diver experienced AV two times). It was found that having an otitis media history or eustachian tube dysfunction determined with the nine-step inflation/deflation tympanometric test before diving, or difficulty in clearing ears during diving could be important risk factors for AV in sport SCUBA divers (p
ISSN:0022-2151
1748-5460
DOI:10.1258/002221503322542845