The following conditions and medications may not be compatible with hyperbaric treatments utilizing hyperbaric chambers:
Conditions
- Pregnancy- while in some cases, women are able to receive treatment utilizing mild hyperbaric oxygen chambers, the contraindication is absolute for traditional hard-shell hyperbaric chambers
- Congenital spherocytosis – a genetic disorder of the red blood cell membrane characterized by anemia, jaundice (yellowing) and splenomegaly (enlargement of the spleen)
- Untreated pneumothorax – free air in the chest outside the lung that requires aspiration of the free air and/or placement of a chest tube to evacuate the air
- Upper respiratory infections – These conditions can make it difficult for the patient to clear their ears, which can result in what is termed sinus squeeze.
- Severe emphysema and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients with either of these conditions may cease breathing if placed in a hyperbaric chamber because their lungs only breathe when it detects enriched levels of CO2.
Medications
- Cis-Platinum– a chemotherapy agent most often used to treat lung cancer
- Disulfiram (Antabuse®)– an oral tablet used to treat chronic alcoholism
- Doxorubicin (Adriamycin®)– a medication used in cancer chemotherapy
- Mafenicde Acetate (Sulfamylon®)– a topical cream used to prevent and treat bacterial or fungus infections (primarily from burns)