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.

1. A S W E D I S H M E D I C A L C OM PA N Y W I T H I N T E R A N A T I ON A L OP E R A T I ON S
abigo products
Say goodbye to
pain when flying.

2. Barotitis – inflammation of the middle
ear.
Barotitisis 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.

3. 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.
Howto 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.

4. abigo products
A S W E D I S H M E D I C A L C OM PA N Y W I T H I N T E R A N A T I ON A L
OP E R A T I ON 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 plasticgrommet in the
eardrum. Documentation is available proving the effectivenessof
this
method in both children and adults.3, 5, 6 See the OTOVENT-
brochure
“First-linetreatment of negative pressure in the middle ear” or
read
more at www.abigo.se or http://www.otovent.se/air-traveller/
References
1. 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. 1996
Jul;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. 1993
Jun;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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