Barotrauma

This condition is treated in the Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) clinic.

Pre-referral work-up

History

All referrals should comply to the referral standards and include:

• Acute onset of vertigo or disequilibrium associated with pressure change usually caused by air flight or diving. There may be associated hearing loss, imbalance and tinnitus
• Middle ear effusion/haemorrhagic tympanic membrane/perforation
• Nystagmus on pneumatic otoscopy
• Tuning forks tests may suggest conductive or sensorineural loss

Interim/GP management

To refer a patient with this condition, please see the ENT clinic page for the full referral process and templates.

Possibility of a perilymph fistula between the inner ear and middle ear must be considered.

For more information please see the HealthPathways Tasmania website.

Link to video on how to perform Tuning Forks Test.

Clinic appointments

🚩 Red location flags are clinical indicators of possible serious underlying conditions requiring further medical intervention. They may or may not indicate an emergency.

Emergency

🚩 Refer immediately to ED

If you, or someone else, are experiencing a serious and life-threatening injury or illness call triple zero (000) immediately or go to the nearest Emergency Department.

Learn more about when to access emergency care and non-emergency care options if the injury or illness is not serious or life-threatening.

Availability

North

Launceston General Hospital
Level 3 - Specialist Clinics

Phone: 1300 977 694
Fax: 03 6777 5227

North West

Unavailable.
See HealthPathways Tasmania for more information

South

Wellington Clinics
Phone: 03 6166 0000
Fax: 03 6234 9454

To contact the on-call ENT Registrar, phone the switchboard on 03 6166 8308.