Effect of Carbogen Inhalation on Peripheral Tissue Perfusion and Oxygenation in Patients Suffering from Sudden Hearing Loss

Abstract

The effects of repeated carbogen inhalation on peripheral tissue perfusion and oxygenation were assessed in 5 patients suffering from sudden hearing loss by means of continuously measured subcutaneous tissue oxygen and carbon dioxide tension, transcutaneous oxygen tension, laser Doppler red cell flux, and fingertip temperature. The subcutaneous oxygen tension increased clearly during the carbogen inhalation periods, and also, a smaller increase in subcutaneous carbon dioxide tension was simultaneously noticed. The changes in transcutaneous oxygen tension were even greater and the latency was shorter as compared with the subcutaneous gas tensions. The laser Doppler measurements showed no signs of vasoconstriction during the study. In conclusion, carbogen inhalation increases peripheral tissue oxygenation without microvascular vasoconstriction and with only a minor retention of carbon dioxide.

Comparative Analysis of the Combined Therapeutic Effects of Lipoprostaglandin E1 on Sudden Idiopathic Sensorineural Hearing Loss

“…The first description of ISSNHL as a clinical disease entity was in 1944 [1]. ISSNHL often leads to otologic emergencies requiring immediate and careful treatment and its incidence is approximately 5 to 20 per 100,000 people [2].…”

“…Carbogen inhalation therapy improves oxygenation and SGB affects vasodilation in the inner ear [1]. The pharmacobiological action of PGE 1 includes inhibition of platelet aggregation, cytoprotection, and vasodilatation [4].…”