A case of delayed aural barotrauma in high performance fighter pilot and literature review

WU Zhuojuan; LI Yuanjun; XU Xianrong; ZHANG Xiaoqian

Abstract：Objective To improve the prevention, cure and medical evaluation of delayed aural barotrauma through one case of delayed aural barotrauma in a high performance fighter pilot.Methods The onset, diagnosis, treatment, follow up and the course of return to flght duty of one case of left delayed aural barotrauma in a high performance fighter pilot were analyzed, and related literature was reviewed.Results This high performance fighter pilot had no discomfort during the training of high altitude flight at night or after landing in March 2014, but suffered a severe pain in his left ear the next morning. The flight surgeon gave this fighter pilot a detailed checkup, only to find a mild retraction and moderate congestion of the left eardrum, but no obvious abnormalities in the right one. The functions of bilateral Eustachian tubes were normal, and had no abnormal symptoms in the nasopharynx. This pilot was diagnosed with delayed aural barotrauma. After repeated Valsalva maneuver, the pain of his left ear was eased and gradually disappeared over the next 4 hours. He returned to flight 3 days later, but was required to swallow during flight tasks and do Valsalva maneuver after landing. Such discomfort has never come back since the next day. Conclusion Delayed aural barotrauma after high altitude flight with oxygen inhalation in fighter pilots could be effectively prevented by repeated valsalva manever.