When the envelope pushes back: a combat aviator experiences barotrauma after descending with an ear block.

Full Abstract

While deployed to a war zone, an aviator displayed poor aeromedical judgment and flew with an upper respiratory infection and an ear block. This resulted in a tympanic membrane perforation and the medical grounding of the member for 10 days. The discussion involves the probable mechanism of injury and the requirements of the Naval Aerospace Medical Institute regarding perforations, as well as the reasoning behind the flight surgeon's choice of treatment.

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Author information

Author/s: Henry, Jason L (JL);

Affiliation: Group Aid Station 14, 2nd Marine Air Wing, Marine Corps Air Station, Cherry Point, NC 28533-0003, USA.

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Case Reports; Journal Article

Journal: Military medicine (Mil Med), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2008-Apr; vol 173 (issue 4) : pp 403-5

Dates: Created 2008/05/13; Completed 2008/06/04;

PMID: 18472633, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 11/6/2008)

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Adult
Aviation
Barotrauma
Humans
Male
Military Personnel

Naval Medicine
Occupational Health
Respiratory Tract Infections - etiology
Tympanic Membrane Perforation - etiology
United States
War

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