Severe acute pancreatitis complicated with intra-abdominal infection secondary to trauma:A case report

BACKGROUND Pancreatic trauma(PT)is rare among traumatic injuries and has a low incidence,but it can still lead to severe infectious complications,resulting in a high mortality rate.Acute pancreatitis(AP)is a common complication after PT,and when combined with organ dysfunction and sepsis,it will result in a poorer prognosis.CASE SUMMARY We report a 25-year-old patient with multiple organ injuries,including the pancreas,due to abdominal trauma,who developed necrotising pancreatitis secondary to emergency caesarean section,combined with intra-abdominal infection(IAI).The patient underwent performed percutaneous drainage,pancreatic necrotic tissue debridement,and abdominal infection foci debridement on the patient.CONCLUSION We report a case of severe AP and IAI secondary to trauma.This patient was managed by a combination of conservative treatment such as antibiotic therapy and fluid support with surgery,and a better outcome was obtained.

Cranial ultrasound in perioperative period of acute severe traumatic brain injury

Objective To observe the value of cranial ultrasound for perioperative patients with acute severe traumatic brain injury(sTBI).Methods Data of 55 sTBI patients who underwent craniotomy were retrospectively analyzed.The patients were divided into observation group(n=15)and control group(n=40)according to received perioperative cranial ultrasound or not.The general data and surgical data were compared between groups,and ultrasonic data of observation group were analyzed.Results The proportions of good prognosis 1 and 6 months after operation in observation group were both higher than those in control group,while the incidence of cerebral infarction in observation group was lower than that in control group(all P<0.05).No significant difference of general data nor other surgical data was found between groups(all P>0.05).Acute encephalocele occurred in 1 case in observation group during operation,and cranial ultrasound accurately showed the contralateral secondary epidural hematoma.Increased intracranial pressure in different degrees were found in all 15 cases(15/15,100%)in observation group after operation with transcranial color coded Doppler(TCCD)or transcranial Doppler(TCD),while cerebral vascular spasm was observed in 5 cases(5/15,33.33%),among them 4 cases(4/5,80.00%)were diagnosed cerebral infarction based on CT examination.Conclusion Cranial ultrasound could be used to evaluate changes of sTBI in perioperative period and guide adjusting treatment strategy in time,being valuable for reducing risk of postoperative cerebral infarction and improving prognosis.

FOXO1 reshapes neutrophils to aggravate acute brain damage and promote late depression after traumatic brain injury

Background:Neutrophils are traditionally viewed as first responders but have a short onset of action in response to traumatic brain injury(TBI).However,the heterogeneity,multifunctionality,and time-dependent modulation of brain damage and outcome mediated by neutrophils after TBI remain poorly understood.Methods:Using the combined single-cell transcriptomics,metabolomics,and proteomics analysis from TBI patients and the TBI mouse model,we investigate a novel neutrophil phenotype and its associated effects on TBI outcome by neurological deficit scoring and behavioral tests.We also characterized the underlying mechanisms both invitro and invivo through molecular simulations,signaling detections,gene expression regulation assessments[including dual-luciferase reporter and chromatin immunoprecipitation(ChIP)assays],primary cultures or co-cultures of neutrophils and oligodendrocytes,intracellular iron,and lipid hydroperoxide concentration measurements,as well as forkhead box protein O1(FOXO1)conditional knockout mice.Results:We identified that high expression of the FOXO1 protein was induced in neutrophils after TBI both in TBI patients and the TBI mouse model.Infiltration of these FOXO1high neutrophils in the brain was detected not only in the acute phase but also in the chronic phase post-TBI,aggravating acute brain inflammatory damage and promoting late TBI-induced depression.In the acute stage,FOXO1 upregulated cytoplasmic Versican(VCAN)to interact with the apoptosis regulator B-cell lymphoma-2(BCL-2)-associated X protein(BAX),suppressing the mitochondrial translocation of BAX,which mediated the antiapoptotic effect companied with enhancing interleukin-6(IL-6)production of FOXO1high neutrophils.In the chronic stage,the“FOXO1-transferrin receptor(TFRC)”mechanism contributes to FOXO1high neutrophil ferroptosis,disturbing the iron homeostasis of oligodendrocytes and inducing a reduction in myelin basic protein,which contributes to the progression of late depression after TBI.Conclusions:FOXO1high neutrophils represent a novel neutrophil phenotype that emerges in response to acute and chronic TBI,which provides insight into the heterogeneity,reprogramming activity,and versatility of neutrophils in TBI.

A case of post traumatic mitral chordae rupture mimicking acute respiratory distress syndrome

Traumatic mitral chordae rupture is a rare and known cause of acute mitral valve regurgitation and de novo heart failure.Concomitant pathologies in a trauma patient may mask the findings of de novo heart failure due to mitral chordae rupture.Trauma patients may also have other potential pre-diagnoses that could explain symptoms related to heart failure,such as tachycardia,circulatory shock,and acute hypoxemia.The possibility of traumatic chordae tendinea rupture being a preventable cause of mortality should be carefully evaluated.

A Qualitative Study of the Triage of Patients with Non-Traumatic Acute Abdomen

Objective: To explore the work experience of medical staff in the emergency department of a general hospital in the triage of patients with non-traumatic acute abdomen to formulate corresponding intervention measures and branch evaluation tools. Methods: With descriptive phenomenology as the research method, semi-structured interviews were conducted with the medical staff in a tertiary hospital in Nanjing from February 1st to 10th, 2023, and Colaizzi seven-step analysis was used to analyze the data. Results: A total of 17 emergency medical staff were interviewed in this study. Four themes were derived from the analysis of the data: the etiology of acute abdomen is complex, so it is difficult to categorize them: acute abdomen requires immediate treatment, but the treat will be delayed if the categorization is inaccurate;the high pressure of nurses and the accuracy in categorizing the patients are problems that should be addressed. Conclusion: The categorization of patients with non-traumatic acute abdomen is challenging. Therefore, it is necessary to carry out corresponding intervention and formulate appropriate departmental evaluation tools to improve the accuracy of categorization of patients with acute abdomen.

Prevalence of posttraumatic stress disorder following acute coronary syndrome and clinical characteristics of patients referred to cardiac rehabilitation

BACKGROUND Studies have demonstrated that patients who have experienced acute coronary syndrome(ACS)have an increased risk of developing posttraumatic stress disorder(PTSD)and experiencing worse survival outcomes than those who do not develop PTSD.Nevertheless,the prevalence rates of PTSD following ACS vary widely across studies,and it is noteworthy that in most cases,the diagnosis of PTSD was based on self-report symptom questionnaires,rather than being established by psychiatrists.Additionally,the individual characteristics of patients who develop PTSD after ACS can differ widely,making it difficult to identify any consistent patterns or predictors of the disorder.AIM To investigate the prevalence of PTSD among a large sample of patients undergoing cardiac rehabilitation(CR)after ACS,as well as their characteristics in comparison to a control group.METHODS The participants of this study are patients who have experienced ACS with or without undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention and are enrolled in a 3-wk CR program at the largest CR center in Croatia,the Special Hospital for Medical Rehabilitation Krapinske Toplice.Patient recruitment for the study took place over the course of one year,from January 1,2022,to December 31,2022,with a total of 504 participants.The expected average follow-up period for patients included in the study is about 18 mo,and currently ongoing.Using self-assessment questionnaire for PTSD criteria and clinical psychiatric interview,a group of patients with a PTSD diagnosis was identified.From the participants who do not have a PTSD diagnosis,patients who would match those with a PTSD diagnosis in terms of relevant clinical and medical stratification variables and during the same rehabilitation period were selected to enable comparability of the two groups.RESULTS A total of 507 patients who were enrolled in the CR program were approached to participate in the study.Three patients declined to participate in the study.The screening PTSD Checklist-Civilian Version questionnaire was completed by 504 patients.Out of the total sample of 504 patients,74.2%were men(n=374)and 25.8%were women(n=130).The mean age of all participants was 56.7 years(55.8 for men and 59.1 for women).Among the 504 participants who completed the screening questionnaire,80 met the cutoff criteria for the PTSD and qualified for further evaluation(15.9%).All 80 patients agreed to a psychiatric interview.Among them,51 patients(10.1%)were diagnosed with clinical PTSD by a psychiatrist according to Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders criteria.Among the variables analyzed,there was a noticeable difference in the percentage of theoretical maximum achieved on exercise testing between the PTSD and non-PTSD groups.Non-PTSD group achieved a significantly higher percentage of their maximum compared to the PTSD group(P=0.035).CONCLUSION The preliminary results of the study indicate that a significant proportion of patients with PTSD induced by ACS are not receiving adequate treatment.Furthermore,the data suggest that these patients may exhibit reduced physical activity levels,which could be one of the possible underlying mechanisms in observed poor cardiovascular outcomes in this population.Identifying cardiac biomarkers is crucial for identifying patients at risk of developing PTSD and may derive benefits from personalized interventions based on the principles of precision medicine in multidisciplinary CR programs.

Use of VA-ECMO successfully rescued a trauma patient with fat embolism syndrome complicated with acute heart failure and acute respiratory distress syndrome

Fat embolism syndrome(FES)is a fatal complication of long bone fractures and multiple traumas.Severe FES can lead to potentially fatal respiratory failure in the form of rapidly developing acute respiratory distress syndrome(ARDS).Here,we report a case of venousarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation(VAECMO)treatment of a patient with near-fatal pulmonary fat emboli caused by severe trauma.

Hyponatremia in the acute phase of spinal cord trauma: Review

Hyponatremia is a common electrolyte disturbance usually observed in neurosurgical patients undergoing surgical management of traumatic, as well as, nontraumatic intracranial pathology. The spinal cord trauma is also associated with occasional development of such hyponatremia;it usually occurs within the first two-weeks of the injury. Hyponatremia can lead to alterations of consciousness, convulsions, coma, cardiac arrhythmias and on rare occasions, death. Authors present a practical oriented review of the literature.

Advances in laparoscopy for acute care surgery and trauma

The greatest advantages of laparoscopy when compared to open surgery include the faster recovery times, shorter hospital stays, decreased postoperative pain, earlier return to work and resumption of normal daily activity as well as cosmetic benefits. Laparoscopy today is considered the gold standard of care in the treatment of cholecystitis and appendicitis worldwide. Laparoscopy has even been adopted in colorectal surgery with good results. The technological improvements in this surgical field along with the development of modern techniques and the acquisition of specific laparoscopic skills have allowed for its utilization in operations with fully intracorporeal anastomoses. Further progress in laparoscopy has included single-incision laparoscopic surgery and natural orifice trans-luminal endoscopic surgery. Nevertheless, laparoscopy for emergency surgery is still considered challenging and is usually not recommended due to the lack of adequate experience in this area. The technical difficulties of operating in the presence of diffuse peritonitis or large purulent collections and diffuse adhesions are also given as reasons. However, the potential advantages of laparoscopy, both in terms of diagnosis and therapy, are clear. Major advantages may be observed in cases with diffuse peritonitis secondary to perforated peptic ulcers,for example, where laparoscopy allows the confirmation of the diagnosis, the identification of the position of the ulcer and a laparoscopic repair with effective peritoneal washout. Laparoscopy has also revolutionized the approach to complicated diverticulitis even when intestinal perforation is present. Many other emergency conditions can be effectively managed laparoscopically, including trauma in select hemodynamically-stable patients. We have therefore reviewed the most recent scientific literature on advances in laparoscopy for acute care surgery and trauma in order to demonstrate the current indications and outcomes associated with a laparoscopic approach to the treatment of the most common emergency surgical conditions.

Biomarkers for patients with trauma associated acute respiratory distress syndrome

Trauma is a major factor that contributes to the risk for acute respiratory distress syndrome(ARDS).Biomarkers that predict the risk,diagnosis,treatment response and prognosis of ARDS after trauma have been widely investigated.In addition to their applications in clinical diagnosis and treatment,these biomarkers provide important insights into our understanding of the pathogenesis of ARDS.This review begins with a brief introduction regarding the incidence and pathogenesis of trauma-associated ARDS.Then,we focus on reviewing the clinical trials that have been designed to investigate the value of biomarkers in ARDS after trauma.Biomarkers with a confirmed value in ARDS have been organized on the basis of key pathogenic processes that are central to ARDS and are described in detail.Among these,angiopoietin 2(Ang-2),L-selectin,Clara cell protein 16(CC16),soluable receptor for advanced glycation end products(s RAGE),Surfactant protein D(SP-D),histones,mt DNAs and some biomarker panels had a certain association with the diagnosis and prognosis of trauma-related ARDS.Further investigations are needed regarding the design of trials,the best sampling approaches and the optimal combinations of the biomarker panels.

Laparoscopic reduction and repair of acute traumatic diaphragmatic hernia:A video review

Traumatic diaphragmatic hernia is one of the sequela of thoraco-abdominal injury,occurring in about 0.5%-5% of patients presenting post major trauma.Motor vehicle collision is the leading blunt trauma etiology.A high level of suspicion is essential to discover such injuries,as a majority of the patients can be asymptomatic.A case of a successful trans-abdominal laparoscopic reduction and repair of a large acute traumatic diaphragmatic hernia is presented as a video demonstration.We were able to evacuate all intrathoracic air,obliviating the need for a chest tube.Post operatively the patient did well with no complications.If expertise is available,laparoscopic intervention is a feasible option even for large traumatic diaphragmatic hernia preventing the need for a large midline laparotomy incision.

Factors related to improved American Spinal Injury Association grade of acute traumatic spinal cord injury

BACKGROUND Acute traumatic spinal cord injury(ATSCI)usually results in disability,yet data on contemporary national trends of ATSCI incidence are limited.AIM To provide a systematic and basic theoretical basis for improving the treatment of acute spinal cord injury.METHODS Data from the Peking University Third Hospital Inpatient Sample databases were analyzed.A total of 304 patients with ATSCI were included from 2012 to 2017.The epidemiological data,treatment,complications and clinical outcomes of these patients were reviewed.RESULTS Of the 304 patients,257(84.5%)were male,and 75%of the patients were 55 years old or younger.135 patients had improved follow-up American Spinal Injury Association(ASIA)grades(44.4%).Only 14 patients with ASIA grade A improved.A statistically significant difference in prognosis between patients who underwent surgery within 72 h and those who underwent surgery after 72 h was observed(P<0.05).Surgery within 72 h resulted in better prognosis.The Steroid group and the Non-Steroid group showed a significant difference in outcome among patients with ASIA grades A and B(P<0.05).Patients with pneumonia had a poorer prognosis than patients without pneumonia(P<0.05).Surgery within 72 h resulted in better prognosis.CONCLUSION This study found that there was no significant difference in hospitalization time and prognosis between the Steroid group and the Non-Steroid group,but the patients with severe spinal cord injury(ASIA grades A and B)who underwent surgery combined with steroid therapy had a better prognosis than those who underwent surgery alone.The disastrous consequences of ATSCI and lack of consensus on the management strategy are obvious.Further improvements in treatment planns are needed in order to obtain more reliable functional outcomes.

Etiology of non-traumatic acute abdomen in pediatric emergency departments

Acute abdominal pain is a common complaint in pediatric emergency departments. A complete evaluation is the key factor approaching the disease and should include the patient's age, any trauma history, the onset and chronicity of the pain, the related symptoms and a detailed physical examination. The aim of this review article is to provide some information for physicians in pediatric emergency departments, with the age factors and several causes of non-traumatic acute abdominal pain. The leading causes of acute abdominal pain are divided into four age groups: infants younger than 2 years old, children 2 to 5, children 5 to 12, and children older than 12 years old. We review the information about acute appendicitis, intussusception, HenochSchnlein purpura, infection, Meckel's diverticulum and mesenteric adenitis. In conclusion, the etiologies of acute abdomen in children admitted to the emergency department vary depending on age. A complete history and detailed physical examination, as well as abdominal imaging examinations, could provide useful information for physicians in the emergency department to narrow the differential diagnosis of abdominal emergencies and give a timely treatment.

Effect of abdominal trauma on hemorrhagic shock-induced acute lung injury in rats

TO evaluate the effects of abdominal trauma on hemorrhagic shock-induced acute lung injury in rats. METHODS： Five groups were allocated （n = 8） in the study. Group Ⅰ was taken as the control group, group Ⅱ as the hemorrhagic shock group, group Ⅲ as hemorrhagic shock ＋ laparotomy, group Ⅳ as hemorrhagic shock ＋ splenectomy and group V as splenectomy ＋ omentectomy ＋ hemorrhagic shock group. Hemorrhagic shock was induced by drawing blood and reducing mean arterial pressure （MAP） to 40 mmHg within 10 min. After a hypotensive period of 1 h, animals were resuscitated. Bronchoalveolar lavage （BAL） was performed to recover cells from the alveolar space with 40 mL of BAL fluid after resuscitation malondialdehyde （MDA） and L-γ-glutamyl-L-cysteinylglycine （GSH） levels were measured in serum, erythrocytes and lung tissue. RESULTS： Serum, erythrocyte, lung tissue MDA and GSH levels were significantly increased in hemorrhagic shock groups Ⅱ-Ⅴ （P 〈 0.05）. Lymphocyte, neutrophil and alveolar macrophage counts in BAL fluid indicated a significant difference between control and shock groups （P 〈 0.05）. CONCLUSION： The degree of trauma increases hemorrhagic shock-induced acute lung injury.

Correlation between Blood cAMP,cGMP Levels and Traumatic Severity in the Patients with Acute Trauma and Its Clinical Significance

In order to investigate the correlation between traumatic servity and blood cAMP and cGMP levels in the patients with acute trauma and its clinical significance, 120 cases of trauma were randomly selected and divided into 4 groups ( n= 30 in each group): mildly traumatic group (ISS≤9), moderately traumatic group (ISS=10-16), severely traumatic group (ISS=17-25) and dangerously traumatic group (>25). The cAMP and cGMP levels were assayed in sera, leucocytes and platelets respectively in 6 h and 24 h after trauma. The results showed that cAMP and cGMP levels were elevated significantly in sera and platelets ( P< 0.05 or P< 0.01), meanwhile cGMP levels in leucocytes ( P< 0.05). It was concluded that cAMP and cGMP might play an important role in traumatic stress, participate in the cellular signal transducation and promote the immune function of leucocytes and the coagulation founction of platelets. Serum cAMP and cGMP levels were upregulated correspondingly as ISS increased, and positively correlated to the traumatic severity.

Morphometric changes in the cortex following acute mild traumatic brain injury

Morphometric changes in cortical thickness(CT),cortical surface area(CSA),and cortical volume(CV) can reflect pathological changes after acute mild traumatic brain injury(m TBI).Most previous studies focused on changes in CT,CSA,and CV in subacute or chronic m TBI,and few studies have examined changes in CT,CSA,and CV in acute m TBI.Furthermore,acute m TBI patients typically show transient cognitive impairment,and few studies have reported on the relationship between cerebral morphological changes and cognitive function in patients with m TBI.This prospective cohort study included 30 patients with acute m TBI(15 males,15 females,mean age 33.7 years) and 27 matched healthy controls(12 males,15 females,mean age 37.7 years) who were recruited from the Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University between September and December 2019.High-resolution T1-weighted images were acquired within 7 days after the onset of m TBI.The results of analyses using Free Surfer software revealed significantly increased CSA and CV in the right lateral occipital gyrus of acutestage m TBI patients compared with healthy controls,but no significant changes in CT.The acute-stage m TBI patients also showed reduced executive function and processing speed indicated by a lower score in the Digital Symbol Substitution Test,and reduced cognitive ability indicated by a longer time to complete the Trail Making Test-B.Both increased CSA and CV in the right lateral occipital gyrus were negatively correlated with performance in the Trail Making Test part A.These findings suggest that cognitive deficits and cortical alterations in CSA and CV can be detected in the acute stage of m TBI,and that increased CSA and CV in the right lateral occipital gyrus may be a compensatory mechanism for cognitive dysfunction in acute-stage m TBI patients.This study was approved by the Ethics Committee of the Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University,China(approval No.086) on February 9,2019.

Video-Assisted Thoracic Surgery as a Less-Invasive Management for Acute Hemothorax in Blunt Trauma

Purpose: We report our experience of Video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) to treat acute blunt traumatic hemothorax using mini-thoracotomy. Methods: We designed a prospective study to determine if VATS with mini-thoracotomy benefits for patients with blunt traumatic hemothorax compared with conventional repair through full thoracotomy. Twenty-five patients underwent emergency operation for acute hemothorax from 2000. Five patients with less than 5% probability of survival (PS) were excluded, leaving 20 as the subjects. Results: Ten patients underwent conventional thoracotomy (conventional group) and the other 10 patients underwent VATS with mini-thoracotomy (VATS group). There was no difference between conventional group and VATS group in injury severity score (29.1 and 27.0) or PS (81.2% and 80.7%). Hospital mortality rates were 10% in conventional group and 0% in VATS group (N.S). Total amounts of intra-operative bleeding and post-operative transfusion until day 7 were 735 ml and 19.3 units in conventional group and 303 ml and 9.2 units in VATS group respectively (N.S). The length of ICU stay was 9.7 days in conventional group and 5.9 days in VATS group (N.S). Conclusion: VATS with mini-thoracotomy can be alternative for patients with blunt traumatic hemothorax in most emergency operations.

Epidemiological Analysis of Surgically Treated Acute Traumatic Epidural Hematoma

This study is a retrospective analysis of demographic, clinical, radiological and outcome data of surgically treated acute traumatic epidural hematomas. Forty-six consecutive cases of epidural hematomas were operated at the University Hospital Center of Yaoundé, Cameroon, between February 2006 and December 2013. The mean age was 29.56 years and63.04% of patients were between 21 and 30 years. Almost 94% of patients were males. Thirty-five percent of patients were motorcycle riders. Road traffic accident was the cause in 70% of cases. Mean time between head trauma and surgical evacuation was 78 hours. Head trauma was moderate in 52.17%. Initial loss of consciousness was found in 78.26% and lucid interval in 65.23%. Seventy-four percent of patients had signs of intracranial hypertension on admission, 35% had at least one neurologic focal sign and 50% had a scalp wound. Eight patients (17.39%) presented with unilateral or bilateral mydriasis. On computed tomography, the hematoma was on the left side in 60.86% of patients and frontal-parietal location was the most frequent. Computed tomography showed mass effect in 97.82% of patients. The most frequent surgical procedure was craniotomy. Six (13.04%) patients died, but 82.60% recovered fully (GOS 5). In Cameroon, traumatic acute epidural hematoma affects primarily healthy young men in their twenties and thirties. Road traffic accidents are the main etiology. Most patients had moderate head trauma and presented with intracranial hypertension. Early surgery is rarely done. Nevertheless, even with delayed surgery, most patients have good outcome.

Comparison between intravenous morphine versus fentanyl in acute pain relief in drug abusers with acute limb traumatic injury

BACKGROUND: Rapid and effective pain relief in acute traumatic limb injuries(ATLI) is one of the most important roles of emergency physicians. In these situations, opioid addiction is an important concern because of the dependency on opioids. The study aims to compare the effectiveness of intravenous(IV) fentanyl versus morphine in reducing pain in patients with opioid addiction who suffered from ATLI.METHODS: In this double-blind randomized clinical trial, 320 patients with ATLI, who presented to the emergency department(ED) from February 2016 to April 2016, were randomly divided into two groups. One group(160 patients) received 0.1 mg/kg IV morphine. The other group(160 patients) received 1 mcg/kg IV fentanyl. Patients' demographic data, pain score at specif ic intervals, vital signs, side effects, satisfaction and the need for rescue analgesia were recorded.RESULTS: Eight patients in the morphine group and five patients in the fentanyl group were excluded. Pain score in the fentanyl group had a significant decrease at 5-minute follow-up(P value=0.00). However, at 10, 30, and 60-minute follow-ups no signifi cant differences were observed between the two groups in terms of pain score reduction. The rescue analgesia was required in 12(7.7%) patients in the fentanyl group and in 48(31.6%) patients in the morphine group(P value=0.00). No signifi cant difference was observed regarding side effects, vital signs and patients' satisfaction between the two groups.CONCLUSION: Fentanyl might be an effective and safe drug in opioid addicts suffering from ATLI.

It's all about timing, early treatment with hyperbaric oxygen therapy and corticosteroids is essential in acute acoustic trauma

Background: Acute acoustic trauma (AAT) is an acute hearing impairment caused by intense noiseimpact. The current management strategy for AAT with substantial hearing loss in the Dutch militaryis the combination therapy with corticosteroids and hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT). In a previousstudy, early initiation of the combination therapy was associated with better outcomes. Therefore, weperformed a new analysis to assess the difference in hearing outcome between patients in whomcombination therapy was started within two days, versus after more than two days.Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed on military patients diagnosed with AAT with substantial hearing loss who presented between February 2018 and March 2020. Absolute and relativehearing improvement between first and last audiograms were calculated for all affected frequencies(defined as loss of 20 dB on initial audiogram). We also determined the amount of patients whorecovered to the level of Dutch military requirement, and performed speech discrimination tests.Results: In this analysis, 30 male patients (49 ears) with AAT were included. The median age was 24.5years (IQR 23e29). The median time to initiation of therapy with corticosteroids and HBOT were one andtwo days, respectively. HBOT was started within two days in 31 ears, and after more than two days in 18ears. The mean absolute and relative hearing gains were 18.8 dB (SD 14.6) and 46.8% (SD 31.3) on allaffected frequencies. The 100% discrimination/speech perception level improved from 64.0 dB to 51.7 dB(gain 12.3 dB ± 14.1). There was significantly more improvement in absolute and relative hearingimprovement when HBOT was started in 2 days, compared to >2 days.Conclusion: Our analysis shows results in favor of early initiation ( 2 days) of the combination treatmentof HBOT and corticosteroids in patients with AAT.