Hyperbaric oxygenation in tinnitus patients: results following primary hemorheologic therapy

Although many studies are available concerning the treatment of sudden deaf ness using hyperbaric oxygenation, only a few of these deal with tinnitus. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the therapeutic use of hyperba ric oxygenation in cases of tinnitus. A total of 193 patients, having under gone primary intravenous hemorheologic therapy, were treated with hyperbari c oxygenation. Tinnitus was evaluated before, after ten sessions and after 15 sessions using a tinnitus questionaire. Additionally, an audiometric exa mination was performed. Measurable improvements of the tinnitus occurred in 22% of the patients, whereas a moderate improvement was seen in 17% of cas es. 10.4% showed an excellent improvement and tinnitus disappeared complete ly in two patients. The improvement rate decreased in those cases where the time from onset of tinnitus exceeded 40 days. In conclusion, hyperbaric ox ygenation seems to be a moderately effective additional treatment in the th erapy of tinnitus after primary hemorheologic therapy, provided the time fr om onset of tinnitus is less than 1 month.