|
 |
|
 |
 |
|
For more helpful information, see links at the bottom of this page.
What is a Hyperbaric Chamber?The Hyperbaric Chamber is traditionally a hard shelled chamber that allows increased amounts of oxygen to flow through the body by increasing the surrounding pressure. There are two different classifications of chambers; multiplace chambers, which can accommodate 2-10 patients, and monoplace chambers, which accommodate one individual. Current chambers have an acrylic shell, which allows the patient to observe his or her surroundings. Communication devices located within the chamber allow direct conversation between the patient and the hyperbaric medicine technician or physician. Table 1 illustrates and compares the advantages and disadvantages of the monoplace and multiplace chambers. Gas is piped directly from its source to the chamber. Humidification and heat exchange gases are present in all modern chambers.
What is Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy?The Hyperbaric Chamber is used for Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy(HBOT) which initiated by treating the “bends” a common disesase found in deep-sea divers involving bubbles of gas in the tissues aka decompression sickness and gas embolism. It drastically increases partial pressure of oxygen in the tissues of the body which increases the amount of oxygen that can be transported in the blood. In other words, surrounding pressure increases to two or three times normal atmospheric pressure while 100% oxygen is being inhaled. This increased amount of oxygen can help rejuvenate damaged tissues and cells in the body. This increased amount of oxygen also helps to fight infections caused by a variety of bacteria, some that only live in the absence of oxygen. It also enables white blood cells to destroy many kinds of bacteria more efficiently.
How does it work?The chamber cures decompression sickness and gas embolism by increasing pressure, which reduces the size of the gas bubbles to improve the transport of blood to tissues downstream of the bubbles. Also, the high concentrations of oxygen breathed by the casualty are beneficial in keeping oxygen-starved tissues alive, and the high concentrations of oxygen in the tissues have the effect of removing the nitrogen from the bubble making it smaller until it consists only of oxygen which is re-absorbed into the body. Under normal atmospheric pressure, oxygen transport is limited by the oxygen binding capacity of hemoglobin in red blood cells and very little oxygen is transported by blood plasma. Because the hemoglobin of the red blood cells is almost saturated with oxygen under atmospheric pressure, this route of transport can not be exploited any further. Oxygen transport by plasma, however, is significantly increased under HBOT. Oxygen is essential in a variety of biological processes that promote normal cellular respiration and tissue function. Under normal conditions, 97.5% of oxygen is carried in the bloodstream bound to hemoglobin. The remaining 2.5% is dissolved in plasma. Oxygen is combined with hemoglobin in the bloodstream, with each gram of hemoglobin combined with 1.34 cm3 of oxygen(physiologic maximum). Under normal conditions at sea level, the arterial hemoglobin saturation is 97%, and the venous hemoglobin saturation is 70%.
The total oxygen content of blood under hyperbaric conditions is equal to the oxygen content calculation plus the dissolved oxygen content. The average metabolic consumption of oxygen by the human body at sea level is 6.6 cm3/100 cm3 of blood. Under hyperbaric conditions of 3 atm while breathing 100% oxygen, the total dissolved oxygen content delivered is in excess of this metabolic requirement, meaning that oxygen can be supplied under these conditions even in the absence of hemoglobin. Together, Charles and Boyle laws are known as the general gas law, expressed as D1V1/T1 = P2V2//T2. Henry law states that "at a constant temperature, the amount of a gas that will dissolve in a liquid is proportional to the partial pressure of the gas." More information can be found at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyperbaric_oxygen_therapy#Uses. There are three process of HBOT:Compression The compression phase is the time when the pressure is being built up around your body. As the pressure is built up, you will feel a fullness of the ears, similar to that felt while skin diving, descending in an airplane, or driving down a high mountain. The hyperbaric chamber operator will adjust the rate of pressure change according to your ability to relieve this fullness in your ears. The operator and the staff member accompanying you in the chamber will teach you methods of easing the pressure in the ears. This phase usually lasts about 5 minutes. Treatment
Once you reach the pressure the doctor has prescribed you may rest, listen to the radio, watch TV, or read. An oxygen breathing hood (OBH) will be place over your head allowing you to receive your own personal high concentration of oxygen supply during the treatment. You will breathe 100% oxygen in 30-minute blocks of time, taking air breaks for 5 minutes. The length of time at full pressure is usually 1 hour and 50 minutes. Decompression At the end of the treatment period, the chamber operator will tell you that it is time to decompress. You will notice that as the pressure is reduced your ears will adjust automatically. This phase usually lasts from 5 to 10 minutes. Hyperbaric medicine has a definite role in treating certain conditions. In 2000, more than 300 hyperbaric chambers were operating in the US. HBOT is expensive, with a session costing anywhere from $100 to $200 in private clinics to over $2,000 in hospitals in the United States. The United States Food and Drug Administration-approved diagnoses for application of HBOT are: * Certain non-healing wounds (post-surgical or diabetic) * Radiation soft tissue necrosis and radiation osteonecrosis * Necrotizing fasciitis (flesh eating bacteria) * Carbon monoxide poisoning * Decompression sickness * Acute arterial ischemia (crush injury, compartment syndrome, etc.) * Compromised skin grafts or flaps * Severe infection by anaerobic bacteria (such as gas gangrene) * Air or gas embolism * Severe uncorrected anemia when blood transfusion is not available (e.g., in a Jehovah's Witness) * Chronic refractory Osteomyelitis * Some sports injuries Related LinksVirtual Tour of a Hyperbaric ChamberUCSD Medical Center Hyperbaric page eMedicine Article Entry Wikipedia Oxyheal Website |
 |
 |
|
