Hyperbaric Medicine

 

Types:

Multi-place unit

·      Pressurised big room

·      Patient wears a sealed hood

·      Oxygen hose into hood, exhaust hose out

·      Occasional ‘air break’ via hood removal

Single place unit

·      Pressurised small room

·      100% oxygen into room

·      Occasional ‘air break’ via ventilation

 

Effects:

Gas dissolution

·      Decompression sickness

·      Arterial gas embolism

Oxygenation

·      Severe anaemia

·      Non-healing wounds

·      Arterial occlusion

Fluid reabsorption

(by vasoconstriction)

·      Crush injury

·      Compartment syndrome

·      Burns

·      Threatened flaps and grafts

Anaerobic bactericide

·      Clostridial myonecrosis

·      Necrotising fasciitis

 

Contraindications:

Absolute

·      Untreated pneumothorax

·      Premature infants

·      Bleomycin

·      Disulfiram

·      Cisplatin

Relative

·      Pregnancy

·      Asthma

·      Thoracic surgery

·      Severe COPD

·      URTI

·      Middle ear disorder

·      Epilepsy

·      Fever

·      Congenital spherocytosis

·      Optic neuritis

 

Complications:

Pressure

·        Middle ear barotrauma

·        Sinus squeeze

·        Pulmonary barotrauma

Hyperoxia

·        Hypoglycaemia

·        Seizure

·        Exacerbation of heart failure

·        Alveolar lipid membrane peroxidation

·        Myopia

·        Cataracts

Other

·        Claustrophobia

 

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