A S W E D I S H M E D I C A L C O M P A N Y W I T H I N T E R A N A T I O N A L O P E R A T I O N S

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Say goodbye topain when flying.

Barotitis – inflammation of the middle ear.Barotitis is an acute inflammation, which occurs due to that a negative pressure builds

up in the middle ear. This occurs when there is a change in surrounding atmospheric

pressure, e.g. in the cabin of an aircraft, particularly when descending. The

characteristics of Barotitis are pain and temporary hearing impairment in the affected

ear. Occasionally there may be vertigo and a hearing impairment of a more permanent

nature. With OTOVENT, equalizing the pressure is easy.

The incidence of developing Barotitis is approximately 10% amongst adults and 20%

in children. In a study published in 2004 it was established that 14% of 188

passengers experienced symptoms of Barotitis. This was reduced to 6% following

inflation with OTOVENT. 1

Pre-start:Normal pressure in the middle ear.

On landing:Dysfunction of the Eustachian tube with negative pressure in the middle ear. The eardrum bulges inwards and hearing is almost normal.

Following landing:Negative pressure in the middle ear. The eardrum bulges in and hearing is impaired.

During ascent:Increased pressure in the middle ear.

During air travel a negative pressure may develop in the middle ear. The problem arises

in connection with descent when the atmospheric pressure in the cabin increases,

whereby a negative pressure behind the eardrum occurs, drawing it inward. If the nega-

tive pressure cannot be normalized this leads to an extremely painful condition, called

Barotitis, which may cause vertigo (normally transient) and impaired hearing. It has

been shown that children under 8 years old develop varying degrees of Barotitis during

air travel.1, 2, 4 Adults are normally able to normalize the negative pressure by squeezing

the nostrils together and forcing air into the ear (this method is called the Valsalva

mano-euvre). However children, and a proportion of adults, have difficulty peforming this.The Otovent-method.The majority of individuals suffering pain from negative pressure in the middle ear

can simply use the OTOVENT balloon in order to equalize the negative pressure.

The method is simple to perform and is also suitable for children from the age of 3

years. The OTOVENT-method can easily be treated as a game. Practice by blowing

up the balloon a couple of times via each nostril using the nose-adapter before flying

(see below). It is advisable to begin equalizing the pressure when descending is

announced. Best results are achieved where equalization is commenced before the

negative pressure in the ear is experienced.

How to use the Otovent balloon.Stage 1. Attach the nose-adapter on to the balloon.

Stage 2. Hold the round part of the nose adapter tightly against the right nostril with the right hand. Close the left nostril with the left index finger.

Stage 3. Breathe in deeply, close the mouth and blow up the balloon to the size of a grapefruit.

Stage 4. Repeat the same procedure with the left nostril.

Stage 5. Repeat a few times during descent and landing in order to keep the Eustachian tubes open.

NOTE! Maximum 20 inflations per balloon.

abigo productsA S W E D I S H M E D I C A L C O M P A N Y W I T H I N T E R A N A

T I O N A L O P E R A T I O N S

The Otovent-method is also recom-mended for children with recurrent inflammation of the middle ear.The OTOVENT-method is well proven and a first-line treatment in attempting to avoid surgical insertion of a plastic grommet in the eardrum. Documentation is available proving the effectiveness of this method in both children and adults. 3, 5, 6 See the OTOVENT-brochure “First-line treatment of negative pressure in the middle ear” or read more at www.abigo.se or http://www.otovent.se/air-traveller/References1. Stangerup SE, Klokker M, Vesterhauge S, Jayaraj S, Rea P, Harcourt J, Point Prevalence of Barotitis and Its Prevention and Treatment with Nasal Balloon Inflation: A Prospective, Controlled Study. Otol Neurotol 25:89-94,2004.

2. Stangerup SE, Tjernström O, Klokker M, Harcourt J, Stokholm J. Point prevalence of barotitis in children and adults after flight, and effect of autoinflation. Aviat Space Environ Med. 1998 Jan;69(1):45-9.

3. Hanner P. Non surgical treatment of otitis media with effusion. Indian Journal of Otology Vol.3, No.3 (Sept.97),101-107.

4. Stangerup SE, Tjernstrom O, Harcourt J, Klokker M, Stokholm J. Barotitis in children after aviation; prevalence and treatment with Otovent. J Laryngol Otol. 1996Jul;110(7):625-8.

5. Blanshard JD, Maw AR, Bawden R. Conservative treat- ment of otitis media with effusion by autoinflation of the middle ear. Clin Otolaryngol Allied Sci. 1993Jun;18(3):188-92.

6. S. E. Stangerup, MD;J. Sederberg-Olsen, MD; V. Balle, MD. Autoinflation as a Tretmentof Secretory Otitis Media. Arch Otolaryngol head Neck Surg. 1992;118:149-152

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E-mail: pharma@abigo.se · www.abigo.se

http://www.otovent.se/air-traveller/