Hello friends 👋
Today I want to share with you something about Medicine, specifically about Hyperbaric Oxygenation (HBO).
What does it consist of?
Hyperbaric Oxygenation Therapy (HBO) is part of "Underwater and Hyperbaric Medicine", which is a branch of Special Environments Medicine.
It is very useful to treat some dysbaric diving accidents and pathologies with ischemia and/or hypoxia, using chambers that are subjected to a pressure equal to or higher than 1.4 and up to 3 atmospheres absolute pressure (ATA), while breathing close to 100% oxygen.
What are Hyperbaric Chambers?
They are airtight vessels constructed of steel, usually cylindrical in shape, pressurized to a pressure higher than sea level (1 ATM), hence the term hyperbaric.
How are hyperbaric chambers classified?
They are classified into single and multiplace, according to the number of people they can allow inside. Although there are also two-seater chambers.
Monoplace chambers are generally pressurized with oxygen, but they can also be pressurized with air.
Multiplace chambers are pressurized with compressed air, and people breathe pure oxygen through a semi-open circuit by means of a nasofacial mask, a helmet or an endotracheal tube.
The attached photo is a Hyperbaric Chamber.
Multiplace "Haux Starmed 2000" that we use frequently and built in Germany.
The advantage of the multiplace chamber is that the patient is accompanied by specialized medical personnel who can assist him with any problem that may arise. It also allows critical patients to enter with life support equipment.
What are the direct effects of Hyperbaric Oxygenation?
It produces alveolar, arterial, venous and tissue hyperoxia; in turn, the high availability and increase of plasma oxygen causes a therapeutic effect in those diseases where there is tissue hypoxia, either local or general.
The state of Hyperoxia created, avoids bioenergetic alterations and cellular lesion.
To conclude: Any disease in which there is a decrease in oxygen supply, or an insufficient or inadequate utilization, can potentially benefit from Hyperbaric Oxygenation.