Morphological and Functional Positive Effect with the Association of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy and Corticoid Against Acute Acoustic Trauma

Abstract

Abstract:Studies describe the use of corticosteroids as the best alternative to treat acoustic trauma, but recent studies point to their combination with hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) as the major benefit in lesions by noise. This study aimed to evaluate the association between HBOT and corticoid therapy (CT). Female guinea pigs were exposed to a white noise on 4 kHz at 110 dB SPL during 72 hours and divided into three treatment groups: HBOT, CT and the combination of both therapies (HBOCT). The treatment lasted five days, being a therapy session per day. All animals were exposed to Distortion Product Otoacoustic Emissions and Brainstem Auditory Evoked Potentials in three moments: before and after exposure to the noise and after the treatment. All cochleae were examined by scanning electron microscopy. Although not statistically significant, the anatomical and functional findings concluded that the association HBOCT played a better otoprotective and therapeutic effect compared to those same therapies alone.