Introduction: Middle ear barotrauma (MEBt) is a frequently occurring complication of hyperbaric oxygen treatment (HBOT). High-grade MEBt may involve tympanic membrane (TM) haemorrhaging. Although many patients undergoing HBOT use antiplatelet or anticoagulant drugs, it is unknown whether these drugs increase the risk of MEBt and particularly TM bleeding complications.
Methods: This multicentre, prospective cohort study investigates the prevalence of MEBt and TM bleeding during HBOT in patients using antiplatelet/anticoagulant drugs, compared with control patients not on such medications. MEBt was assessed by video otoscopy of the TM pre and post HBOT and scored according to the modified Teed score. Any complications from previous HBOT sessions were retrospectively documented.
Results: Of 73 patients receiving HBOT, 34 used antiplatelet/anticoagulant drugs. Mild MEBt (Teed score 1 or 2) occurred in 23 of these 34 patients and in 31 of the 39 controls. Teed score 3 MEBt occurred in only two of the control-group patients and none of the patients using antiplatelet/anticoagulant drugs. Two patients using anticoagulant drugs reported epistaxis during a previous HBOT session, epistaxis was not reported by any control patients.
Conclusion: Low-grade MEBt is common during HBOT, however, high-grade barotrauma is rare with current chamber operating procedures. Patients using antiplatelet/anticoagulant drugs potentially may be prone to MEBt-associated haemorrhagic complications, but we did not observe any such increase in this cohort. Only mild epistaxis occurred in patients using anticoagulant drugs.
Keywords: Middle ear; barotrauma; cardiovascular; haematology; hyperbaric oxygen therapy; medication; risk factors.