Barotrauma after stapes surgery: a survey of recommended restrictions and clinical experiences.

OBJECTIVE

To identify a consensus on the postoperative barorestrictions after stapes surgery and to examine the clinical barotrauma experience within this patient population encountered by the surveyed physicians.

DATA SOURCE

A 34-item survey was developed, allowing for detailed analysis of physician demographic data, practice characteristics, surgical experience, and clinical experience with barotrauma after stapes surgery. The postoperative restrictions addressed by the survey included those for air travel, snorkeling, and scuba diving. Recommendations for the use of ventilation tubes and hyperbaric oxygen therapy were investigated as well.

STUDY SELECTION

Surveys were mailed to 419 active members of the American Otological Society and the American Neurotology Society as listed in the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery (AAO-HNS) 1994-1995 Conjoint Directory. A total of 284 (67.8%) surveys were returned, of which 53 were not sufficiently completed and were excluded in the statistical analysis.

DATA EXTRACTION

The demographic data and clinical experience were analyzed to determine statistical association with the postoperative recommendations using chi 2 or Fisher's exact tests. The kappa statistic was used as a measure of consistency between physicians' recommended restriction for a specific activity after a stapedectomy or stapedotomy.

CONCLUSION

No consensus was demonstrated as to restrictions from activities such as air travel, snorkeling, or scuba diving. Despite this lack of consensus, no significant difference was demonstrated in the prevalence of barotrauma reported within the responding physicians' practices based on their individual recommendations for these activities.