barotrauma

barotrauma /baro·trau·ma/ (-traw´mah) injury due to pressure, as to structures of the ear, in high-altitude flyers, owing to differences between atmospheric and intratympanic pressures; see barosinusitis and barotitis.

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bar·o·trau·ma (br-trôm, -trou-)

n.

Injury caused by pressure, especially to the middle ear or paranasal sinuses due to an imbalance between the ambient pressure and pressure within the cavity.

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barotrauma

[ber′ōtrô′mə, -trou′mə]

Etymology: Gk, baros + trauma, wound

physical injury sustained as a result of exposure to changing air pressure, or rupture of the tympanic membranes, as may occur among scuba divers or caisson workers or anyone near nuclear or atomic blasts. Barotrauma may be iatrogenic as in the case of excessive ventilator pressures leading to lung injury. Compare decompression sickness.

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barotrauma [bar″o-traw´mah]

injury caused by pressure differences between the external environment and the inside of a bodily structure. Seen with structures of the ear, in high altitude flyers and others (see barotitis media and barosinusitis). In the lung it is caused by excessive airway pressures, resulting in extra-alveolar air, as in pneumothorax, pneumomediastinum, or pneumoperitoneum.

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barotrauma

Audiology Middle ear injury caused by ↑ air pressure; trauma to the inner ear 2º to atmospheric pressure alteration, which occurs while flying or deep water diving, resulting in ↓ visual and proprioceptive cues due to ↓ vestibular input Clinical Disequilibrium, disorientation, N&V Sports medicine Tissue injury due to the failure of a gas-filled body space–eg, lungs, middle ear, sinuses, to equalize internal pressure to ambient pressure; barotrauma often results from rapid or extreme changes in external pressure–eg, explosions. See Atmospheric inner ear barotruma, Pulmonary barotrauma.