Hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) therapy as an effective approach to the treatment of patients with severe idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss

Abstract

Background: The potential etiology of idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss (ISSNHL) is cochlear ischemia, therefore, hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) therapy is a promising treatment, particularly in patients with severe hearing loss (≥70 dB).

Aims/objectives: To evaluate the efficacy of HBO therapy.

Material and methods: The medical records of patients diagnosed with ISSNHL were retrospectively reviewed (≥70 dB). Patients received HBO therapy 14 times in addition to systemic and intratympanic steroid therapy (HBO group), or systemic and intratympanic steroid therapy only (control group).

Results: Data from a total of 82 patients (83 ears) were included in the analysis; 37 (38 ears) in the HBO group and 45 (45 ears) in the control group. After 2 weeks’ treatment, hearing was significantly improved in the HBO group versus controls (weighted four-frequency average 28.1 ± 26.9 dB versus 14.8 ± 13.5 dB, respectively; p < .05), particularly in the low frequency groups (0.5 kHz, 1 kHz, 2 kHz; p < .05).

Conclusion and significance: These data demonstrate that HBO therapy is an effective initial treatment option for patients with ISSNHL suffering from severe hearing loss.

Chinese abstract

背景：特发性突发性感音神经性聋（ISSNHL）的潜在病因是耳蜗缺血, 因此, 高压氧（HBO）治疗是一种很有前景的治疗方法, 尤其是对重度听力损失（≥70 dB）的患者。

目的：评价高压氧治疗的疗效。

材料与方法：回顾性分析确诊为ISSNHL的患者（≥70 dB）的病历资料。HBO组除了全身和鼓室内类固醇治疗外, 还接受了14次HBO治疗。而对照组仅接受全身和鼓室内类固醇治疗。

结果：82例患者（83个耳）的资料被纳入分析；HBO组37例（38个耳）, 对照组45例（45个耳）。治疗2周后, HBO组与对照组相比听力明显改善（加权四频平均值分别为28.1 ± 26.9 dB与14.8 ± 13.5 dB；p <.05）, 尤其是低频组（0.5 kHz、1 kHz、2 kHz；p <.05）。

结论与意义：这些数据表明, 高压氧治疗是严重听力损失的ISSNHL患者的有效初始治疗选择。

Keywords:

• Sudden sensorineural hearing loss
• severe hearing loss
• hyperbaric oxygen therapy

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.