Fitness-to-dive after otologic surgery is often approached conservatively, with some procedures historically labelled as absolute contraindications despite limited empirical evidence. The available literature is heterogeneous and includes clinical reports, experimental pressure studies, guidance documents, and manufacturer specifications, leading to uncertainty in clinical counseling....
Audiologists and otolaryngologists involved in post-surgical counselling of diving patients should be aware this decision aid exists, but it requires individual clinical judgement and institutional validation before routine adoption.
Evidence-based fitness-to-dive guidance after otologic surgery has been lacking; this decision aid could help standardise counselling and reduce unnecessary long-term activity restrictions.
- 01A structured decision aid for return-to-diving after ear surgery is proposed.
- 02Historically conservative contraindications are challenged with current evidence.
- 03The tool aims to standardise fitness-to-dive assessments across clinicians.
- 04Relevant for audiologists and otolaryngologists who counsel patients who dive.
- 05Published in a diving and hyperbaric medicine journal (DOI: 10.28920/dhm56.2.177-184).
Historically conservative contraindications to diving after otologic surgery are not fully supported by current evidence.
studypartially supportedA structured decision aid can reliably guide fitness-to-dive assessment after otologic surgery.
studyunclear- PMID
- 42290578
- DOI
- 10.28920/dhm56.2.177-184.
- Journal
- Diving and Hyperbaric Medicine
- Publication type
- review
- Evidence level
- 5
- Population
- Patients who have undergone otologic surgery and wish to return to scuba diving
- Intervention
- Evidence-informed decision aid for fitness-to-dive assessment
Primary outcomes
Clinical criteria for fitness-to-dive after otologic surgery