Comparative study on prevention of earache occurred in hyperbaric oxygen therapy

Abstract

Objective This paper aims to find a best position of ephedrine hydrochloride nasal drops by comparing earache occurred in hyperbaric oxygen(HBO )therapy while using ephedrine hydrochloride nasal drops in two positions: laying in lateral position of 45°with head leaning back; laying down flat, so as to supply reference for prevention of earache. Methods We selected 300 cases of HBO patients who were firstly treated by HBO and randomly divided into the observation group and the control group with 150 cases in each group. All these patients were treated by large medical hyperbaric oxygen tank. On the first to third day, ephedrine hydrochloride nasal drops were put into the patients before they were sent into the oxygen tank. Patients in the observation group lay in lateral position of 45°with their head leaning back, and those in the control group were in horizontal position. We put three drops of 1% of ephedrine hydrochloride nasal drops respectively into their nasal cavity. When they came out of the oxygen tank, we asked them if they felt earache and checked their tympanic membrane so as to make a comparison. Results It was found that earache, rate of tympanic membrane injury and the extent of such injury in the observation group was obviously less than that in the control group, there was difference in statistics between these two groups. Conclusions Before HBO treatment, ephedrine hydrochloride nasal drops that put in lateral position of 45°with patients head leaning back can reduce the possibilities of earache occurred in HBO. It was also observed that such position was an ideal one which had anatomical characteristics of Eustachian tube and was safer than laying down flat, so such position is more practical. Key words: Hyperbaric oxygen; Ephedrine; Method; Earache