Ear, nose and throat and non-acoustic barotrauma.

The organs of the ear, nose and throat (ENT) contain air- or gas-filled cavities, which make them sensitive to pressure changes. There is a specific pathophysiology involved when these structures are exposed to non-acoustic press ure changes, which are usually not traumatic in normals. The concepts of pathophysiology, diagnosis and treatment of these traumas in an emergency setting are reviewed.