[Value of the association of normovolemic dilution and hyperbaric oxygenation in the treatment of sudden deafness. A retrospective study].

The multiple treatments of sudden deafness shows how this pathology still remains quite unknown. The authors present a retrospective study of 87 patients treated by normovolemic hemodilution associated to hyperbaric oxygenation. They obtain a total à 60% of significant recovery (ratio between hearing gain and initial hearing loss, above 25%) and in severe hearing loss (threshold between 70 and 90 dB) 60% of good results (ratio above 50%). The importance of the initial form of audiogram and the presence of dizziness as prognostic factors is not confirmed. On the other hand, the evolution of tinnitus is correlated with the deafness and it is a supplementary means to evaluate the therapeutic efficiency. Moreover the persistence of tinnitus represents an important after effect. Sudden deafness still remains a medical emergency and the delay for carrying out any treatment should be as short as possible. On the other hand it is possible to reduce hospital stay by two sessions of hyperbaric oxygenation per day.