The normal functioning of the auditory tube ensures the stable operation of the ear canal and the integrity of the tympanic membrane. One of the conditions for such a normal operation is uniform pressure inside the ear. If there is a violation or a sharp drop in atmospheric pressure inside the ear canal, there is a violation and tearing of the tympanic membrane, or barotrauma of the ear.
Pathogenesis of the disease
Barotrauma of the ear can be characterized as an injury of moderate severity. Uniform distributed pressure within the ear canal allows the membrane of the tympanic membrane to be preserved intact and intact, allowing the transfer of sound vibrations unimpeded.
With an uneven change in atmospheric pressure, which is often characterized by a sharp airy cotton, there is a shock injuring a one-sided externally sensitive eardrum.
The photo shows the lesion zone for ear barotrauma
Causes of
The ear barotrauma catches surprise not only by test pilots, cosmonauts and pilots. With this trauma in real life, each of us can face. Here are some reasons that can cause it:
- incorrect and excessively rapid immersion in water( common in scuba divers);
- sharp change in altitude( common among cosmonauts, military pilots);
- flight by plane;
- travel through the tunnel;
- decompression during a blast wave;
- acoustic barotrauma when shooting;
- improperly rendered medical care or manipulation during treatment;
- violation of airtightness in the cabins at high altitude( in the airplane).
Significantly more often barotrauma of the ear occurs in those people who have catarrhal diseases or suffer from this or that type of otitis. The presence of inflammation interferes with natural and normal air circulation. With a sharp drop in air, some air cork is formed, which causes injury to the middle ear.
Barotrauma can also be caused by a pressure drop, if there are adenoids, swelling of the mucosa of the ear or nose, tumors.
Symptoms of
With varying intensity of ear barotrauma, each person experiences virtually identical symptoms. In some cases, the symptoms subside almost immediately, but they make themselves felt after a while in more acute manifestations.
So, the symptomatology for ear barotrauma looks like this:
- at the time of injury, the victim feels severe pain in the ear or in the head. It is characterized by tingling, sharpness and pressure, as if from the inside;
- dizziness;
- attacks of nausea( rarely);
- ringing or whistling in the ears;
- crackling in the ears;
- loss of hearing.
With a serious rupture of the tympanic membrane during severe concussion and barotrauma, a person experiences incredibly severe pain, which in some cases can lead to loss of consciousness and even death. Also, bleeding from the ear and impaired coordination can be seen.
If the first symptoms are found, do not idle. When acute pain and partial hearing loss occur, the first aid should be given to the victim and sent to the doctor for an appointment.
Later, the tympanic membrane, which has undergone a rupture, passes into a suppuration state. If untimely treatment may require surgical treatment and enhanced medication.
Look at the picture that occurs in the ear after barotrauma
First aid
First aid for barotrauma of the ear involves the provision of prompt and quality action. When bloody discharge appears, you should find a suitable sterile tissue, and after she has wounded her injured ear, go to the hospital. Independently more decisive manipulation is not worth taking.
In the next turn, it is necessary to try to reduce the amount of air entering the auditory canal. This is best done by an emergency paracentesis. After that, only the doctor can purge the ear and remove excess fluid from the canal.
After the above measures, the doctor conducts a diagnosis, which may include otoscopy. It allows to understand the degree of damage to the membrane of the tympanic membrane and the degree of hemorrhage.
Treatment of ear barotrauma
Treatment for ear barotrauma is of several varieties. So, if a direct rupture of the tympanic membrane was avoided, the patient is prescribed a sparing treatment.
It involves inserting into the ear canal a sterile clot of cotton wool. Drops can be prescribed as a prophylaxis.
Also in the absence of serious tears prescribe sedative and analgesic medications, as during the first days of the victim may be disturbed by minor pain from the received stroke.
In the presence of more serious injuries, which are accompanied by inflammation and acute pain, a sterile bandage with a compress is applied to the injured person. During the course of treatment, the necessary antibiotic is prescribed, which is blown into the ear canal in the form of a powder. Mandatory sedative and painkillers are prescribed.
The main thing to remember is that the injured ear needs to ensure complete sterility and try to avoid exposing it to possible damage throughout the treatment. Namely, it is better to postpone possible flights, a trip to the concert and a trip by train.
In the future, it would be nice to remember about the prevention of ear barotrauma. It is not possible to be protected from receiving it intentionally, but the risk can be minimized.
So, timely eliminate colds and when traveling through the air and in any other situation that can lead to this type of injury, adjust the pressure inside the ear canal. You can do it by just opening your mouth. So, you will be able to protect yourself from undesirable consequences.
How to protect yourself from barotrauma when immersed in water, see in our video:
Consequences of
Wrong treatment, ignoring the problem can lead to complications. In many cases, the eardrum simply begins to become inflamed, which leads to otitis media of the middle ear.
The appearance of baroiditis is also possible. It is characterized by the accumulation of fluid inside the ear, which leads to a constant presence of noise inside the ear, loss of hearing and a feeling of fullness of the ear canal with water.
In baro-atotics, it provides for its own treatment, but it is almost identical to barotrauma treatment. The victim can not blow his nose and make sudden movements, as they can lead to infection of the middle ear.