Alternobaric Vertifo: Incidence in Portuguese Air Force Pilots

Abstract

Alternobaric Vertigo is a sudden and transient vertigo caused by asymmetrical changes in middle ear pressure (Lundgren - 1965). These changes are directly related to the daily activity of aircraft pilots (and divers). This vertigo strikes often in critical maneuvers (attacks or evasions) causing sudden disoilentation. We used an anonymous enquiry, multiple-choice type, preceded by a briefing about alternobaric vertigo. We found 29% of the pilots with 1 or more episodes of alternobaric vertigo, all being caused directly by rapid ascents and/or brisk Valsalva maneuvers.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jun 01, 2001
Accession Number
ADP011066

Entities

People

  • Alves Dos Santos
  • Joao Subtil
  • Jorge Varandas

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • Aircrafts
  • Aviation Accidents
  • Ear
  • Hyperbaric Conditions
  • Maneuvers
  • Military Medicine
  • Military Pilots
  • Nose Diseases
  • Pilots
  • Respiratory Physiological Phenomena
  • Respiratory Tract Diseases
  • Risk
  • Risk Factors
  • Technical Information Centers

Readers

  • Auditory Neuroscience/Auditory Physiology.
  • Educational Psychology
  • Game Theory.