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Barotrauma is the damage to body tissue caused by a difference in pressure between an air space in or near the body and the surrounding air.
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What causes barotrauma of hollow organs?
Primary blast effect
What is the medical term meaning pressure related ear discomfort?
barotrauma
Why does my shoulder hurt when I yawn?
When you yawn, it causecan discomfort in the ear due to pressure differences. This is referred to as ear barotrauma.
What is the medical term meaning pressure-related ear discomfort?
The medical term for pressure-related ear discomfort is called "barotrauma." This condition can occur when there is a difference in pressure between the inside and outside of the ear, often experienced during activities like flying, scuba diving, or driving in mountainous areas.
What is the medical terminology combining form meaning weight?
Bar- is the medical terminology combining form meaning weight or pressure, as in bariatric surgery or barotrauma.
Can barotrauma be caused by pressure differences from an explosion?
I think it can. The human threshold of pain is about 120 dB. That is a pressure of 200 Pa. Engines can reach about 140 dB ~ 50000 Pa ~ 0,5 bar. An explosion can reach far more than 0,5 bar. Barotrauma is caused by diving, about Pressure differences around 3 - 10 bar. So I think Explosions can cause it when you are in a room.
What are the results of a myringotomy in adults?
Normal results in adults include relief of ear pain and ability to resume flying or deep-sea diving without barotrauma.
Which gas law best explains diving medical problems?
Boyle's Law explains the inverse relationship between pressure and volume, and therefore explains barotrauma such as middle air squeezes, sinus squeezes, and lung overexpansion injuries.
What is the most serious injury that a diver could suffer if they hold their breath upon ascending?
Answer: The most serious injury is lung barotraumas, which can result in pneumothorax, pneumomediastinum, pneumopericardium, subcutaneous emphysema, and arterial gas embolism. Barotrauma is injury caused by pressure effects on air spaces. This may occur during ascent or descent. The ears are the most commonly affected body part. All divers, commercial air travelers, people traveling overland between different altitudes, and people who work in pressurized environments have had to deal with some degree of barotrauma effect upon their ears, sinuses, and other air spaces. At the most extreme, barotrauma can cause ruptured eardrums, bleeding sinuses, exploding tooth cavities, and the lung injuries described above. This is the reason why divers follow a golden rule of never holding their breath: by breathing continuously, they avoid any pressure differences between their lungs and ambient pressure.
Ear barotrauma?
DefinitionEar barotrauma is discomfort and possible damage in the ear due to pressure differences between the inside and outside of the eardrum.Alternative NamesBarotitis media; Barotrauma; Ear popping; Pressure-related ear pain; Eustachian tube dysfunctionCauses, incidence, and risk factorsThe air pressure in the middle ear is usually the same as the air pressure outside of the body. The eustachian tube is a connection between the middle ear and the back of the nose and upper throat.Swallowing or yawning opens the eustachian tube and allows air to flow into or out of the middle ear, keeping the air pressure on both sides of the eardrum equal. If the eustachian tube is blocked, the air pressure in the middle ear is different than the pressure on the outside of the eardrum. This causes barotrauma.Many people experience barotrauma at some time. Barotrauma commonly occurs with altitude changes, such as flying, scuba diving, or driving in the mountains. If you have a congested nose from allergies, colds, or an upper respiratory infection, you are more likely to develop barotrauma.Blockage of the eustachian tube could also be present before birth (congenital), or it may occur because of swelling in the throat.SymptomsDizzinessEar discomfortor pain in one or both earsHearing loss(slight)Sensation of fullness or stuffiness in the earsIf the condition is severe or prolonged:Ear painFeeling of pressure in the ears (as if underwater)Moderate to severe hearing lossNosebleedSigns and testsDuring an inspection of the ear, the doctor may see a slight outward bulge or inward pull of the eardrum. If the condition is severe, there may be blood behind the eardrum.Severe barotrauma may be difficult to tell apart from an ear infection.TreatmentTo relieve ear pain or discomfort, first try to open the eustachian tube and relieve the pressure.Chew gumInhale, and then gently exhale while holding the nostrils closed and the mouth shutSuck on candyYawnWhen flying, do not sleep during the descent. Use these measures frequently to open the eustachian tube. Allow infants and children to nurse or sip a drink during descent.Divers should descend and ascend slowly. Diving while you have allergies or a respiratory infection is dangerous, because barotrauma may be severe.If self-care attempts do not relieve your discomfort within a few hours, or if the barotrauma is severe, you may need medical intervention.Medications recommended may include:AntihistaminesDecongestants taken by mouth or by a nose spraySteroidsThese medications may relieve nasal congestion and allow the eustachian tube to open. Antibiotics may prevent ear infection if barotrauma is severe.If the tube will not open with other treatments, surgery may be necessary. A surgical cut is made in the eardrum to allow pressure to become equal and fluid to drain (myringotomy). However, surgery is rarely necessary.If you must make frequent altitude changes or you are susceptible to barotrauma, you may have tubes surgically placed in the eardrum.Expectations (prognosis)Barotrauma is usually noncancerous (benign) and responds to self-care. Hearing loss is almost always temporary.ComplicationsAcute ear infectionHearing lossRuptured or perforated eardrumVertigoCalling your health care providerTry home care measures first. If you cannot relieve the discomfort of barotrauma in a few hours, call for an appointment with your health care provider.Call your provider if you have barotrauma and new symptoms develop, especially:Drainage or bleeding from the earFeverSevere ear painPreventionYou can use nasal decongestants or antihistamines before altitude changes. Try to avoid altitude changes while you have an upper respiratory infection or allergy attack.Talk to your doctor about using decongestants if you plan to scuba dive.ReferencesO'Reilly RC, Sando I. Anatomy and physiology of the eustachian tube. In: Cummings CW, Flint PW, Haughey BH, et al, eds. Otolaryngology: Head & Neck Surgery. 5th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Mosby Elsevier; 2010:chap 131.Arts HA. Sensorineural hearing loss in adults. In: Cummings CW, Flint PW, Haughey BH, et al, eds. Otolaryngology: Head & Neck Surgery. 5th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Mosby Elsevier; 2010:chap 149.Reviewed ByReview Date: 05/09/2011A.D.A.M. Editorial Team: David Zieve, MD, MHA, and David R. Eltz. Previously reviewed by Linda J. Vorvick, MD, Medical Director, MEDEX Northwest Division of Physician Assistant Studies, University of Washington, School of Medicine; Seth Schwartz, MD, MPH, Otolaryngologist, Virginia Mason Medical Center, Seattle, Washington (8/3/2010).
What is decompression illness?
It is any illness that is related to a release of pressure from the body such as barotrauma .. baro (pressure) trauma (injury). It includes decompression sickness, but it is not limited to decompression sickness. It is also not limited to diving even though that is what is mostly thought of when discussing decompression illness or DCI.
If a patient has a bulging eardrum what does it indicate to the nurse?
There are a couple things it could be, in a young baby it may just be fluid from a cold, or even from being fed while lying flat. The distance between the back of the throat - sinus - ears is very short, making babies very susceptible to fluid and even infection behind the membrane. The other likely cause is air travel, everyone is susceptible but in someone with a cold "barotrauma" is almost guaranteed. It is the most common medical problem reported by air travelers. It is much more likely to happen to people who have colds, allergies or infections when they are flying. It is common in children because their Eustachian tubes are narrower than those of adults and become blocked more easily. If the bulge and pressure from fluid is causing severe pain and is not responding to decongestants the doctor may have to put a small hole in the membrane to allow it to drain. The fluid can cause dizzy spells, visual disturbance and hearing loss. A need to "pop" your ears by swallowing, yawning or chewing gum Barotrauma can also be seen in divers, it will most likely cause the same symptoms and can cause severe pain on subsequent dives until it heals.
