• Jen-Ming Chen, Zheng-Nan Lu, Re-Wen Wu, Kuo-Wei Bi, and Chun-Ting Liu.
• Department of Chinese Medicine, Kaohsiung.
• Medicine (Baltimore). 2021 Apr 30; 100 (17): e25674e25674.

BackgroundIn hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT), a patient is exposed to pure oxygen in a chamber. While HBOT is a long-standing and well-established treatment for a wide variety of medical conditions, one of the main complications is middle ear barotrauma (MEB), which can lead to complaints of ear discomfort, stuffiness or fullness in the ear, and difficulties in equalizing ear pressure. The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of self-acupressure in preventing and reducing the degree of MEB associated with HBOT.MethodsThis is a prospective nonrandomized controlled study. A sample of 152 participants will be assigned to 2 groups in a 1:1 ratio. The participants in the control group will receive conventional Valsalva and Toynbee maneuvers, while those in the experimental group will be given additional self-acupressure therapy. The acupoints used will be TE17 (Yifeng), TE21 (Ermen), SI19 (Tinggong), and GB2 (Tinghui). The Modified Teed Classification, symptoms of MEB, and overall ear discomfort levels will be assessed. Data will be analyzed using the Chi-Squared test or t test.ObjectivesThis study aims to evaluate the efficacy of self-acupressure for preventing and reducing the degree of MEB associated with HBOT.Trial RegistrationClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04311437. Registered on 17 March, 2020.Copyright © 2021 the Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.

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