Liubov Kornilenko, Jelena Stanislavovienė, Irina Arechvo
Abstract
The aim of the study is to estimate the possible risky behavior of Lithuanian divers and its relation to ear damage as well as identify the opinions of Lithuanian otolaryngologists concerning contraindications and recommendations in the diving field.
Material and methods. The authors compiled two separate questionnaires for Lithuanian divers and otolaryngologists; in total, 84 questionnaires were completed. Statistical tests were used to detect the difference among answers of respondents who have distinct sociodemographic characteristics or different diving/consulting experience.
Results. It was revealed that 47.5% of divers experienced difficulties while equalizing the air pressure. More than half of the divers (57.9%) ignored this embarrassment and continued diving. Ear pain was felt by 37.5% of the respondents during their diving session. Half of the divers consulted a doctor because of the pain, others did not pay attention and proceeded the diving. The third of the interviewed divers were diving though they had rhinitis. Most of them were diving without any medications. Only 13% of those who experienced dizziness consulted a doctor. Absolute contraindications to dive are a tympanic membrane perforation (90.9%), myringotomy tube inserted into a tympanic membrane (79.5%), and Eustachian tube dysfunction (61.4%); these disorders are most often reported by the interviewed otolaryngologists. In this survey, 61.3% of the otolaryngologists declared they would allow diving if there were no symptoms of vertigo in the past 3–6 months. The opinion of otolaryngologists on diving in the case of acute rhinitis, as well as on the returning to diving after the stapedoplasty, is different; 15% of the interviewed doctors would recommend stopping diving for a definite period. Despite the recommendations of doctors, 17.9% of divers continued to dive.
Conclusions. This study shows that the behavior of divers regarding the hearing health is often quite risky. Lithuanian otolaryngologists are lacking consensus of opinion on contraindications for diving.
Keyword(s): behavior of divers, diving contraindications, ear barotrauma.
DOI: 10.35988/sm-hs.2020.007
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