Recurrent facial baroparesis on airplane flights relieved by endoscopic sinus surgery: A case report

Abstract

Facial baroparesis is a rare transient facial nerve palsy caused by compression of the tympanic segment of the facial nerve. However, otolaryngologists are lacking sufficient information about the course and treatment of this disease. We report a case of facial baroparesis relieved by endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS). A 41-year-old man presented with a one-year history of recurrent right facial palsy that only developed during altitude changes in an aircraft. Computed tomography (CT) of the temporal bone revealed dehiscence of the tympanic portion of the facial nerve canal. Based on the CT finding and clinical course, the patient was diagnosed with facial baroparesis. He was also diagnosed with chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP), and thereafter underwent ESS. For 4 years after surgery, he has not experienced facial palsy during airplane altitude changes. To our knowledge, this is the first case report of facial baroparesis relieved by ESS.

Keywords:

• Facial baroparesis
• eustachian tube dysfunction
• dehiscence
• altitude change
• endoscopic sinus surgery

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This research received no specific grant from any funding agency.