wargo@sdcsla.UUCP (Dave Wargo) (07/08/85)
I would like to know if anyone has any info on hyperbaric chambers and there healing properties ? I have heard some vague results from wounds being treated in 100% O2. I wonder if an inriched O2 environment, at 14 lbs. per square inch, would be effictive, or would two atmospheres be better? Thanks for your help. Good Health Dave Wargo ucbvax!sdcsvax!sdcsla:wargo
ron@brl-tgr.ARPA (Ron Natalie <ron>) (07/12/85)
> > I would like to know if anyone has any info on hyperbaric chambers > and there healing properties ? > > I have heard some vague results from wounds being treated in 100% > O2. > > I wonder if an inriched O2 environment, at 14 lbs. per square inch, > would be effictive, or would two atmospheres be better? > The Maryland Institute for Emergency Medicine Systems Services maintains a hyperbaric chamber at their SHOCK-TRAUMA unit at University Hospital in Baltimore. They dive for a number of problems including gas gangrene, smoke and toxic gas inhalation/poisoning, and diving accidents. They are also part of a network of these chambers along the east coast. As far as the smoke and gas poisoning goes, there seems to be some argument between the people at ShockTrauma and the Burn Unit at Francis Scott Key Hospital (a loose relative to Johns Hopkins), the people at the burn unit believe that the chamber is ineffective and that just using 100% oxygen at normal pressures is the optimum treatment. I'm not overly sure of all the details, but I'll talk to one of my friends down there and get some details if you are still interested. -Ron
axelrod@regina.DEC (07/12/85)
Hyperbaric Chambers are used to treat gangrene. Gangrene is an anaerobic bacterium, so extra O2 perfused into the tissues saves limbs and lives. When I was working at Children's Hospital, Boston, 15 years ago, they quarantined their hyperbaric facility and set up an intensive care bed right next to the chamber. Someone from Maine was brought in for several days of treatment of a few hours each. Another application, at that time, was for pediatric cardiac surgery. They had a complete operating room, with explosion-proof (non-arcing) monitors and everything, inside the chamber. An attached, smaller chamber contained bloodgas analysis and other routine chemistry test equipment. I didn't learn how they comp- ensated for the results under pressure. Everyone in the chamber had to wear a mask with hoses to give them the right breathing mixture. Glenn Axelrod Maynard, Mass
ayers@convexs.UUCP (07/16/85)
/* ---------- "Hyperbaric chambers" ---------- */ I wonder if an inriched O2 environment, at 14 lbs. per square inch, would be effictive, or would two atmospheres be better? /* End of text from convexs:net.med */ Call your local dive shop and ask them this question -- the answer will just kill you... blues, II (If a little is good, a lot MUST be better!!!!!)
brianm@bigtuna.UUCP (Brian Martin) (08/21/85)
The problem with hyperbaric oxygen is that the high concentration of superoxide radicals can do lots of damage to your body. However, hyperbaric oxygen is being used experimentally in spinal cord trauma patients. Basically, the approach is to use hyperbaric oxygen to raise the tissue oxygen level to 5%, which is high enough to keep neural tissue alive when the vascular suppply of oxygen has been compromised. For example, an acute spinal cord patient enters the hyperbaric chamber essentially paralyzed due to loss of the blood supply to a certain region of his spinal cord, but he is able to walk again when he leaves the chamber. Later that evening, as he starts to lose function in his legs, where the level of function correllates to tissue oxygen levels, he goes back to the hyperbaric chamber for another treatment. This goes on until the blood supply to the hypoxic region of his spinal cord is reestablished. Brian Martin University of Hawaii School of Medicine