Inner ear barotrauma: A case report of rare post-operative complication following robot-assisted radical prostatectomy

Abstract

To highlight a rare case of inner ear barotrauma as a post-operative complication following robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP). A 65-year-old man diagnosed with localised prostate carcinoma underwent elective RARP in a steep Trendelenburg position. Postoperatively, the patient complained of bothersome dizziness and spinning of surroundings associated with nausea. The patient was diagnosed to have vestibular symptoms secondary to inner ear barotrauma. He was started on prochlorperazine 12.5 mg and antibiotics, following which the patient improved. Vestibular rehabilitation exercises were taught to the patient. After 3 days of treatment, the patient did well with no episodes of dizziness. The patient was discharged on tablet cinnarizine 25 mg thrice daily for a week. On follow-up, the patient is asymptomatic. Inner ear barotrauma can be a rare complication of a combination of prolonged steep Trendelenburg during robotic surgery and pneumoperitoneum. Only further reporting of such incidents can help determine predisposing factors and precautions for preventing such incidents.

Keywords

• complications
• inner ear barotrauma
• robot-assisted radical prostatectomy
• steep trendelenburg position
• vestibular symptoms