The Role of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy in the Management of Patients With Sudden Hearing Loss
The therapeutic approach in sensorineural hearing loss (ISSNHL) is far from a consensual protocol among ENT (ear, nose and throat) doctors. The present paper describes our experience with Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) as salvage treatment for selected patients with the sudden sensorineural hearing loss. The HBOT method has shown an efficacy of 50% in our study, as salvage treatment in ISSNHL after initially corticoids therapy. Thus, we can assert without doubt that HBOT represents a viable option for those patients who want to continue the effort to regain hearing. Under the auspices of the national ENT society, through a collective effort, can be achieved a therapeutic consensus in the sensorineural hearing loss. In this consensual document, HBOT can be found both as initial and salvage therapy, alone or in the multimodal therapeutical variant. Further, the National Health Insurance House should introduce the reimbursement of HBOT sessions in the methodological norms, in order to offer this new therapeutic solution to all patients.