By: Rodolfo Ajitzi Páramo Linares.
The barotrauma -leisure caused by changes of pressure-
usually occurs by immersion in water, rise into the atmosphere or mechanical
respiratory support management. While ascending in the atmosphere, the pressure
gradually decreases, so that the pressure at 5,500 m it´s half compared to the
pressure in the sea level. On the contrary, when you descend into the water,
the pressure increases more rapidly and doubles every 10 m below the surface.
Barotrauma caused by changes in atmospheric pressure usually affects the ears
and sinuses. Among the divers, barotrauma leads to hearing damage,
decompression sickness and gas embolism. Pulmonary barotrauma may result from
diving or mechanical ventilation.
Treatment
The best treatment is prevention, either by processes
of acute upper respiratory tract (sinusitis, colds, allergies) or chronic by
anatomical abnormalities (septal deviation, nasal polyposis, .. ); they subject
to significant changes in atmospheric pressure as occur when diving or flying.
This is precisely the basis of why in flights passengers are provided with candy
just before starting the landing of the plane, as chewing or swallowing candy
determines the opening of the tube thus facilitating the balance of pressures
between the ear and nasopharynx.
References: 1.
sintomastratamiento.com/.../barotrauma-tratamiento-causas-sintomas-dia...
2. BECKER, W; HEINZ NAUMANN, H; PFALZ, CR, dirs. Traumatismos.
Otorrinolaringología. Barcelona, ed. Doyma, 1989, pág. 76-78.
