Abstract
Sudden sensorineural hearing loss seems to become a serious social health problem in modern societies. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) reports, adult-onset sensorineural hearing loss is found to be one of the leading diseases at the global level, especially in high-income countries, and is foreseen to move up from the 14th to 7th leading cause of the global burden of diseases by the year 2030. Although the direct mortality rate of this disease is very low, its influence on quality of life is huge; that is the reason why the implementation of the most effective and the safest therapies for the patient is crucial for minimizing the risk of complications and adverse reactions to treatment. The aim of this paper is to present hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) as a medical procedure useful in the treatment of sudden sensorineural hearing loss as adjunctive therapy of high efficacy. This paper focuses on the molecular mechanisms of action and clinical effectiveness of HBOT in the treatment of idiopathic sudden deafness, taking into consideration both the benefits and potential risks of its implementation.
Highlights
Clinical hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) is defined as placing a patient’s entire body in an increased pressure environment and having that patient inhale 100% oxygen for their specific diagnosis, for a defined period of time per treatment [1]
sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) appears to be characterized by hypoxia in the perilymph and, in the scala tympani and the organ of Corti
Results of recent research showed that HBOT combined with oral or intratympanic corticosteroids increased hearing gain in SSNHL patients compared to steroids treatment alone
Summary
Clinical hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) is defined as placing a patient’s entire body in an increased pressure environment and having that patient inhale 100% oxygen for their specific diagnosis, for a defined period of time per treatment [1]. Recommendations include decompression illness and CO poisoning, prevention and treatment of osteoradionecrosis (mandible), soft tissue radionecrosis (cystitis and proctitis), gas embolism, open fractures with a crush injury, anaerobic or mixed bacterial infections, and sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL). Recommendations and standards are supported by strong evidence of beneficial action based on at least two concordant, large, double-blind, randomized controlled trials, with no or only weak methodological bias. Recommendations or guidelines are supported by evidence of beneficial action based on double-blind, randomized controlled trials, but with some methodological bias, such as concerning only small samples or only a single study. The aim of this paper is to present HBOT as a medical procedure useful in the treatment of sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) as an adjunctive therapy of high efficacy. This paper focuses on the mechanisms of action and clinical usefulness of HBOT in the treatment of idiopathic sudden deafness, taking into consideration both the benefits and potential risks of its implementation
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