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Sudden bilateral sensorineural hearing loss after intravenous cocaine injection: A case report and review of the literature
Author(s) -
Stenner Markus,
Stürmer Konrad,
Beutner Dirk,
Klussmann Jens Peter
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
the laryngoscope
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.181
H-Index - 148
eISSN - 1531-4995
pISSN - 0023-852X
DOI - 10.1002/lary.20711
Subject(s) - medicine , audiogram , anesthesia , audiology , hearing loss , cocaine abuse , cocaine use , prednisolone , surgery , psychiatry
Little is known about the effects of intravenous abuse of cocaine, especially on the inner ear. We report on a 26‐year‐old man who presented to our outpatient department with a sudden severe hearing loss after intravenous injection of cocaine. The audiogram on admission showed symmetric air conduction levels up to 80 dB at 4 kHz. After treatment with intravenous sodium chloride, prednisolone, and pentoxifylline, the audiogram 2 days later showed a bilateral normacusis. A review of the literature on the topic is given and possible reasons for inner ear damages caused by cocaine are discussed. Laryngoscope, 2009