Hyperbaric oxygen therapy in sudden sensorineural hearing loss following spinal anesthesia: case reports
Carneiro, S.N.; Guerreiro, D.V.; Cunha, A.M.; Camacho, Óscar.F.; Aguiar, I.C.
Undersea and Hyperbaric Medicine Journal of the Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society Inc 43(2): 153-159
2016
ISSN/ISBN: 1066-2936 PMID: 27265992 Document Number: 689955
The management of sudden sensorineural hearing loss following spinal anesthesia is currently an open problem. Several strategies have been used with variable results and, to the best of our knowledge, there are no prior accounts in the literature on the use of hyperbaric oxygen therapy in the treatment of this complication. We report two cases of acute onset of unilateral hearing loss after spinal anesthesia, with significantly improved results after hyperbaric oxygen therapy. A hypothesis on the possible mechanism behind this complication is discussed. A relation is established between hyperbaric oxygen therapy and this hypothetical mechanism, in order to explain successful results in the reported cases.