We report a case of a 55-year-old male who experienced unilateral facial muscle paralysis upon ascent to altitude on a commercial airline flight, with resolution of symptoms shortly after descent. The etiology was determined to be facial nerve barotrauma, or facial baroparesis, which is a known but rarely reported complication of scuba diving, with even fewer cases reported related to aviation. The history and proposed pathogenesis of this unique disease process are described.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
|---|---|
| http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5965112 | PMC |
| http://dx.doi.org/10.5811/cpcem.2018.1.36488 | DOI Listing |
Publication Analysis
Top Keywords
Similar Publications
Facial nerve baroparesis: a case report.
J Med Case Rep
November 2024
Faculty of Medicine, Damascus University, Mazzeh, Damascus, Syria.
Background: Facial nerve baroparesis is a peripheral facial nerve injury resulting from barotrauma during activities such as diving, aviation, and mountain climbing. This condition occurs when increased pressure in the middle ear affects the facial nerve, leading to facial palsy. Despite being documented in otolaryngology literature, facial nerve baroparesis remains underreported and often misunderstood.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAn Effective Treatment for Recurrent Bilateral Facial Palsy in a Flight Attendant: A Case Report.
Cureus
February 2024
Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Kota Kinabalu, MYS.
Recurrent facial baroparesis is a rare condition that is mostly observed in individuals who have been exposed to barotraumatic conditions, particularly scuba divers and air travelers. We present a case of an unusual bilateral alternating recurrent facial nerve palsy and its successful treatment. A 34-year-old airline stewardess presented with a seven-month history of recurrent bilateral alternating facial nerve palsy that occurred exclusively during airline takeoffs.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFFacial nerve baroparesis during airflight: a case report and literature review.
J Laryngol Otol
January 2021
Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Monash Health, Melbourne, Australia.
Background: Facial nerve baroparesis is a rare phenomenon which has been reported during flight. It is thought to occur due to ischaemic neuropraxia on the facial nerve as middle-ear pressure increases in the presence of Eustachian tube dysfunction and force is transmitted through a dehiscent facial nerve canal.
Method: This study presents an aviation-associated, right-sided facial nerve palsy as well as presenting the results of a systematic review that was performed on the available literature using Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines.
Successful treatment of highly recurrent facial baroparesis in a frequent high-altitude traveler: a case report.
J Med Case Rep
November 2020
School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA.
Background: Facial baroparesis is a palsy of the seventh cranial nerve resulting from increased pressure compressing the nerve along its course through the middle ear cavity. It is a rare condition, most commonly reported in barotraumatic environments, in particular scuba diving and high-altitude air travel. We report here an unusual case of highly frequent baroparesis, workup, and successful treatment.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWant AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?
Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!