11/38. MR imaging appearance of frontal sinus barotrauma.We present the case of a flight passenger who experienced acute and severe headache during landing. MR imaging was performed because the patient had a history of vascular malformation and revealed an incidental venous angioma. A mass lesion in the frontal sinus, consistent with submucosal hematoma secondary to barotrauma, was thought to be the cause of the headache. To our knowledge, this is the first case of sinus barotrauma described in the radiologic literature and the first to describe the associated MR imaging findings.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = headache (Clic here for more details about this article) |
12/38. Gastric barotrauma in a scuba diver: report of a case.stomach rupture can occur as a consequence of the expansion of compressed air during rapid ascent after diving. We present the case of a middle-aged woman who suffered a gastric tear from surfacing too quickly after diving, and discuss the diagnosis and management of such patients by reviewing previously reported similar events. Gastric barotrauma should be suspected in divers who complain of abdominal pain, even in the absence of frank signs of peritoneal irritation. Although pneumoperitoneum is always present in these patients, it can also occur as a consequence of pulmonary barotrauma, making gastroscopy or radiological contrast studies, or both, essential for a definitive diagnosis. Surgical repair represents the treatment of choice for an active full-thickness tear and, if associated with arterial gas embolism or decompression sickness, should ideally be performed in a center where a category I (intensive care-capable) hyperbaric unit is available.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.13973149413237keywords = pain (Clic here for more details about this article) |
13/38. Should computed chest tomography be recommended in the medical certification of professional divers? A report of three cases with pulmonary air cysts.Pulmonary barotrauma (PBT) is a recognised risk of compressed gas diving. Any reason that causes air trapping in the lung during ascent may cause PBT by increasing intrapulmonary pressure. Chest x ray examination is mandatory for medical certification of the professional divers in many countries, but pulmonary air trapping lesions such as an air cyst in the lungs cannot always be detected by plain chest x ray examination. Computed tomography (CT) is a reliable, but expensive measure for detecting pulmonary abnormalities in divers. Three cases with pulmonary air cysts are reported in which air cysts were invisible on the x ray pictures, but well defined by CT. It is impractical and not cost effective to perform CT for medical certification of all divers, but it can be an option to recommend CT once during the initial examination of the candidates for professional diving, especially if there is a history of predisposing factors, such as smoking or pulmonary infections.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 4.7169355576613keywords = chest (Clic here for more details about this article) |
14/38. Intracerebral pneumatocele presenting after air travel.In this report the authors discuss a patient who experienced symptoms of an acute right frontal, intraparenchymal pneumatocele while on an airplane descending to an international airport. This rare complication of an ethmoid sinus osteoma that eroded upward through the dura mater is described along with a literature review. A persistent headache and inappropriate behavior consistent with a frontal lobe syndrome brought the patient to clinical and imaging evaluation, which revealed a large right frontal lobe pneumatocele and an associated ethmoid sinus osteoma extending upward into the frontal lobe. Through a right frontal craniotomy, the air cavity was evacuated, the osteoma partially excised, and the dural defect closed using a vascularized pericranial flap. Postoperatively, the patient made an unremarkable recovery. For patients with air sinus osteomas extending into the cranial cavity, air travel or other barotrauma may result in a life-threatening tension pneumatocele.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.5keywords = headache (Clic here for more details about this article) |
15/38. headache associated with airplane travel: report of six cases.This study presents six cases of headache that appeared only during flights and was not associated with other headache forms. The cases had severe headache attacks during some flights, when the plane was landing and taking off, with a unilateral and generally orbital and/or supraorbital localization. The attacks lasted between 15 and 20 min on average and recovered spontaneously, without any accompanying sign. We think that barotrauma caused by pressure changes in the cabin during take-off and landing could affect ethmoidal nerves (branching from the ophthalmic branch of the trigeminal nerve) that carry the senses of the mucosa on the inner surface of the paranasal sinuses, and/or nociceptors in ethmoidal arteries, thereby activating the trigeminovascular system and leading to headache.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 2keywords = headache (Clic here for more details about this article) |
16/38. Acute frontal sinus barotrauma.A 25-year-old man presented to the emergency department with an acute onset of frontal sinus pain during descent on a commercial airliner. There was no history of recent upper respiratory infection, sinus infection, or chronic allergic rhinitis. Sinus radiographs demonstrated a left frontal sinus submucosal hematoma. Symptoms improved within 24 hours with systemic and topical decongestants/vasoconstrictors and a nonsteroidal antiinflammatory agent. He was asymptomatic at 1 week postinjury.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.1467296904975keywords = pain, upper (Clic here for more details about this article) |
17/38. Aerotitis: cause, prevention, and treatment.Aerotitis, an acute inflammation of the middle ear caused by the difference in air pressure between the airplane cabin and the middle-ear space, is becoming more common in the united states as our society becomes increasingly mobile. We describe a case in which a 33-year-old woman with a resolving upper respiratory tract infection and mildly blocked eustachian tubes flew on a business trip. During ascent, her ears became blocked. This blockage was partially alleviated by a Valsalva's maneuver. On descent, however, her ears became severely blocked, she experienced intense pain, and her tympanic membranes ruptured. She became nauseated and vomited. Her hearing became significantly diminished and she experienced vertigo. On landing, she was taken to a local emergency room and treated with penicillin and antivertiginous medication. Subsequent otologic evaluation revealed severe permanent sensorineural hearing loss. The vestibular symptoms lasted several months. She now requires hearing aids on a permanent basis. Suggestions are presented for prevention and treatment of aerotitis.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.1467296904975keywords = pain, upper (Clic here for more details about this article) |
18/38. barotrauma related to inhalational drug abuse.Three patients are described who developed either pneumomediastinum or "clicking pneumothorax" after abusing illicit drugs. In recent years, patients presenting with pneumomediastinum after abusing cocaine have been frequently reported; these patients are most commonly young males with pleuritic chest pain. Seventy-three percent have detectable subcutaneous emphysema and fifty percent have a Hamman's sign. The pathophysiology, presenting features, and treatment of patients with barotrauma related to inhalational drug abuse are reviewed.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1.0831186056646keywords = chest, pain (Clic here for more details about this article) |
19/38. Fatal arterial gas embolism: detection by chest radiography and imaging before autopsy.Two recent cases are reported from north queensland of deaths from massive arterial gas embolism occurring in tourists scuba diving on the Great Barrier Reef. The diagnosis was established in each case by an external examination of the body, followed by a plain erect chest radiograph soon after death and before autopsy; in one of the cases it was further confirmed before autopsy by computed tomography (CT) of the head, neck and thorax. The diagnosis was also supported by analysis of a diving profile, inspection and investigation of diving equipment, and autopsy. In the light of previously published advice and reports, the experience gained from these two cases now dictates that investigation of an unexplained death occurring after exposure to, and change from, hyperbaric or hypobaric conditions, should begin with plain erect chest radiography on the body before autopsy. Combining this with a pre-autopsy supine chest film before standing the body erect, and CT scanning of the head, neck and chest, is also recommended.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 7.547096892258keywords = chest (Clic here for more details about this article) |
20/38. Pulmonary barotrauma and arterial gas embolism caused by an emphysematous bulla in a SCUBA diver.A 23-year-old female self-contained underwater breathing apparatus (SCUBA) diver developed central nervous symptoms and signs of arterial gas embolism when surfacing after 15 min at a depth of 18 m. The dive had been performed according to normal procedure. In the hospital, chest X-ray and computer tomography of the chest showed a large emphysematous bulla in the left hemithorax. Recompression treatment was not performed. Reexamination of old x-rays showed an emphysematous bulla on the left side which had been present before the dive. She made a complete recovery. Emphysematous bullae may be a more common cause of pulmonary barotrauma than is realised. Bullae visible on computer tomograms or magnetic resonance imaging may not be visible on conventional x-rays. The case reported illustrates the need for a consensus on the procedures necessary for the medical screening of diving candidates.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 12.302436070216keywords = breathing, chest (Clic here for more details about this article) |
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