TY - JOUR PY - 2014// TI - Facial baroparesis: a critical differential diagnosis for scuba diving accidents--case report JO - Undersea and hyperbaric medicine A1 - Iakovlev, E. V. A1 - Iakovlev, V. V. SP - 407 EP - 409 VL - 41 IS - 5 N2 - Facial nerve baroparesis is a rare and potentially under-reported complication of scuba diving. A diver, after surfacing from a shallow dive, developed isolated left-sided facial palsy accompanied by pain and decreased hearing in the left ear. No other signs or symptoms attributable to a scuba diving accident were detected. Forty minutes later, he heard a "pop" in the affected ear, after which all symptoms quickly resolved. Repeat neurological and ear examinations were normal. He showed no residual or new symptoms 24 hours later. The differential diagnosis of facial neurological deficit after diving includes decompression sickness, cerebral air embolism due to pulmonary barotrauma, facial nerve barotrauma and common conditions such as stroke and Bell's palsy. It is important to recognize the condition since recompression treatment can further damage the facial nerve.
Language: en
LA - en SN - 1066-2936 UR - http://dx.doi.org/ ID - ref1 ER -