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Alternobaric vertigo in sport SCUBA divers and the risk factors

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 May 2006

Cem Uzun ,
Recep Yagiz ,
Abdullah Tas ,
Mustafa K. Adali ,
Nurkan Inan ,
Muhsin Koten  and
Ahmet R. Karasalihoglu
Cem Uzun
Affiliation:
Department of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Trakya University, Faculty of Medicine, Edirne, Turkey.
Recep Yagiz
Affiliation:
Department of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Trakya University, Faculty of Medicine, Edirne, Turkey.
Abdullah Tas
Affiliation:
Department of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Trakya University, Faculty of Medicine, Edirne, Turkey.
Mustafa K. Adali
Affiliation:
Department of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Trakya University, Faculty of Medicine, Edirne, Turkey.
Nurkan Inan
Affiliation:
Department of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Trakya University, Faculty of Medicine, Edirne, Turkey.
Muhsin Koten
Affiliation:
Department of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Trakya University, Faculty of Medicine, Edirne, Turkey.
Ahmet R. Karasalihoglu
Affiliation:
Department of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Trakya University, Faculty of Medicine, Edirne, Turkey.
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Abstract

We investigated the eustachian tube function and the incidence of alternobaric vertigo (AV) in 29 sport self-contained underwater breathing apparatus (SCUBA) divers with, or without, some possible risk factors for AV. The divers had normal audiological and otoscopic findings at the pre-dive examination. We used the nine-step inflation/deflation tympanometric test and Toynbee test for evaluation of eustachian tube function, and the Valsalva manoeuvre for patency. Information on divers, their history, and their otolaryngologic examination were obtained in the pre-dive examination. Divers performed 1086 dives (mean 37, range: 3–100) during the observation period. Four divers (14 per cent) experienced AV during five dives (0.46 per cent), (one diver experienced AV two times). It was found that having an otitis media history or eustachian tube dysfunction determined with the nine-step inflation/deflation tympanometric test before diving, or difficulty in clearing ears during diving could be important risk factors for AV in sport SCUBA divers (p<.05). Divers with such findings seem to be more prone to AV and should pay rigorous attention to the precautions for prevention of AV.

Keywords

DivingVertigoEustachian TubeRisk Factors
Type
Research Article
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 117 , Issue 11 , November 2003 , pp. 854 - 860
Copyright
© Royal Society of Medicine Press Limited 2003

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