Comprehensive surgical management of the aerosinusitis patient

E K. Weitzel
K C. McMains
Peter-John Wormald, Government of South Australia, SA Health

Abstract

Barotrauma can be defined as damage occurring to body structures resulting from ambient pressure change. As an individual's alititude increases from sea level, atmospheric pressure will decrease. If this change in pressure occurs more rapidly than the body's compensatory mechanisms can accommodate, discomfort or physcial damage will result. The middle ear spaces and paranasal sinuses are the structures most likely to be affected by barotrauma. The term 'aerosinusitis' has been applied to sinus difficulties resulting from barotrauma. The diagnosis of aerosinusitis requires simultaneous occurrence of a sinus cavity pressure differential and sinus related discomfort [1]. Frontal pain is the most common symptom in both military and civilian aerosinutis; however, civilian incidents rarely result in significant issues [2,3]. Military pilots are exposed to greater physiologic extremes and thus are at risk for worse barotrauma sequelae.