Headache may develop in flight passengers without underlying pathology even though this type of headache is not included in "The International Classification of Headache Disorders". We report on a case of headache which had developed during airplane landing. A rapid change in the ambient pressure may give rise to headache.
Aircraft ; Barotrauma ; Headache

A self-inflating bag resuscitator is universally used to ventilate patients during cardiopulmonary resuscitation and transfer. This device can be reused after sterilization and reassembly, and the mis-assembly of a resuscitator can possibly happen. We report here on a case of mis-assembly of a resuscitator valve that resulted to barotrauma and instability of a patient.
Barotrauma ; Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation ; Humans ; Sterilization

Malfunction of the unidirectional valve in a breathing circuit system may cause hypercapnia from the rebreathing of expired gas, ventilation failure, and barotrauma. Capnography is a useful method for monitoring the integrity of the unidirectional valve. We experienced two cases of malfunction of a unidirectional valve which caused leakage and reverse flow, diagnosed early as a change of the capnographic waveform. One case was caused by expiratory unidirectional valve breakage. The other was caused by an incorrectly-assembled inspiratory unidirectional valve.
Barotrauma ; Capnography ; Hypercapnia ; Respiration ; Ventilation

Pulmonary barotrauma during ascent is a common complication in SCUBA diving. One of the most severe forms of pulmonary barotrauma is a cerebral arterial gas embolism(CAGE). It is reported to account for about 30% of diving related deaths. The early recognition of CAGE is very important for the emergency physician because prompt hyperbaric recompression therapy can improve the clinical course. Thus, the emergency physician should know the clinical manifestation of CAGE to apply several treatment modalities early. We report a case of cerebral arterial gas embolism presented with hemiparesis and blurred vision immediately after SCUBA diving at 13 meters.
Barotrauma ; Diving* ; Embolism, Air* ; Emergencies ; Paresis

No abstract available.
Barotrauma* ; Lung Injury* ; Lung* ; Respiration, Artificial*

High frequency jet ventilation (HFJV) has advantage for laryngomicrosurgery that the transit of a small airway tube through the surgical field causes much less interference with surgery. We experienced a case of tension pneumothorax during high frequency jet ventilation. The possible cause of barotrauma in this case was obstruction of gas escape. It is recommened that meticulous care is taken to ensure and adequate pathway for expiration when HFJV is used.
Barotrauma ; High-Frequency Jet Ventilation ; Pneumothorax* ; United Nations ; Ventilation*

Colon barotrauma can be mostly caused by elevated intraluminal pressure. Air insufflation during colonoscopy procedure is the most common cause of iatrogenic colon barotrauma. Cat scratch colon can usually be seen in the mild type of colon barotrauma, and colon perforation can be seen in the severe type. We presently report a case of non-iatrogenic colon barotrauma caused by industrial compressed air. Multiple linear mucosal ulcers were noted in the recto-sigmoid colon, but the colon was not perforated. The patient was discharged without any further complications after conservative treatments.
Animals ; Barotrauma ; Cats ; Colon ; Colonoscopy ; Compressed Air ; Humans ; Insufflation ; Ulcer

An air-compressor system takes atmospheric air, and filters, pressurises and dries it, before delivering it to the pipeline as a medical air. Because the air supplied by the air compressor may be used to wentilate patients or to drive surgical tools, its quality and purity must be carefully controlled. Atmospheric air contains a variable amount of water vapour but always more than is specified for medical air. Water vapour must be removed from medical air since it can damage surgical tools and some ventilators and can condense in low-lying parts of the pipeline system. Reeently we have had experience of pneumothorax by pulmonary barotrauma associated with obstruction of the ventilator exhalational valve. As a result of investigating the possible causes, we concluded the cause as high moisture content in the compressed air due to the malfunctioning air drier and filters. Therefore we submit this case report along with discussion and literature reviews.
Barotrauma ; Compressed Air* ; Humans ; Pneumothorax ; Ventilators, Mechanical* ; Water

The tracheobronchial histopathologic findings in 7 healthy cats used with high frequency oscillation ventilation (HFOV) were compared with those in 6 cats used with conventional mechanical ventilation (CMV). 4-point, 9-variable scoring system was used to evaluate the injury in the trachea, right & left main bronchi and parenchyma. The following results were obtained; 1) The tracheobronchial tree received HFOV had no significant damage compared with CMV (P>0.05). 2) Intraepithelial mucus loss and emphysema were slightly more prominent in CMV groups. As above results; the tracheobronchial histopathologic difference was not prominent between CMV and HFOV groups received with relatively short period, however, the cellular of function and barotrauma may be more prominent in CMV groups. From now on, as causes of tracheobronchial injury in HFV, interaction between humidification and mechanical trauma considers further study.
Animals ; Barotrauma ; Bronchi ; Cats* ; Emphysema ; High-Frequency Ventilation* ; Mucus ; Respiration, Artificial* ; Trachea ; Trees

OBJECTIVES: Treatment of traumatic perilymph fistula (PLF) remains controversial between surgical repair and conservative therapy. The aim of this study is to analyze the outcomes of early surgical exploration in suspected barotraumatic PLF. METHODS: Nine patients (10 cases) who developed sudden sensorineural hearing loss and dizziness following barotrauma and underwent surgical exploration with the clinical impression of PLF were enrolled. Types of antecedent trauma, operative findings, control of dizziness after surgery, postoperative hearing outcomes, and relations to the time interval between traumatic event and surgery were assessed retrospectively. RESULTS: All patients had sudden or progressive hearing loss and dizziness following trauma. Types of barotrauma were classified by the origin of the trauma: 4 external (car accident, slap injury) and 6 internal traumas (lifting, nasal blowing, straining). Surgical exploration was performed whenever PLF was suspected with the time interval of 2 to 47 days after the trauma. The possible evidence of PLF was found during surgery in 9 cases: a fibrous web around the oval window (n=3), fluid collection in the round window (RW; n=6) and bulging of the RW pseudomembrane (n=1). In every patient, vestibular symptoms disappeared immediately after surgery. The hearing was improved with a mean gain of 27.0+/-14.9 dB. When the surgical exploration was performed as early as less than 10 days after the trauma, serviceable hearing (< or =40 dB) was obtained in 4 out of 7 cases (57.1%). CONCLUSION: Sudden or progressive sensorineural hearing loss accompanied by dizziness following barotrauma should prompt consideration of PLF. Early surgical exploration is recommended to improve hearing and vestibular symptoms.
Barotrauma ; Dizziness ; Fistula ; Hearing ; Hearing Loss ; Hearing Loss, Sensorineural ; Humans ; Perilymph