Inner ear decompression sickness in a hyperbaric chamber inside tender: a case report

Dominique Gelmann; Gregory Jasani; Siamak Moayedi; Douglas Sward

Inner ear decompression sickness in a hyperbaric chamber inside tender: a case report

Undersea Hyperb Med. 2021 Fourth Quarter;48(4):443-448.

Authors

Dominique Gelmann¹, Gregory Jasani², Siamak Moayedi^{2

3}, Douglas Sward^{2

3}

Affiliations

¹ University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland U.S.
² Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland U.S.
³ Department of Hyperbaric Medicine, R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland U.S.

PMID: 34847308

Abstract

Inner ear decompression sickness (IEDCS) is a rare diving complication that presents with vestibular dysfunction, cochlear dysfunction, or a combination of both. While scuba diving is a known cause, no cases have been reported in the occupational hyperbaric setting. We present the case of a 55-year-old man who developed IEDCS after working as a hyperbaric multiplace chamber inside tender. The patient was treated with seven sessions of hyperbaric oxygen therapy, resulting in resolution of the majority of his symptoms. This case illustrates a potential occupational hazard of working in a hyperbaric chamber and demonstrates successful treatment with hyperbaric oxygen therapy.

Keywords: hyperbaric complication; hyperbaric medicine; hyperbaric occupational hazard; hyperbaric oxygen therapy.

Publication types

Case Reports

MeSH terms

Decompression Sickness* / etiology
Decompression Sickness* / therapy
Diving* / adverse effects
Ear, Inner*
Humans
Hyperbaric Oxygenation*
Male
Middle Aged