Hyperbaric treatment have been found to yield some positive results in patients suffering from autism, decompression sickness, gas embolism, cerebral palsy and other conditions caused by the paucity of oxygen supply to the different body parts. This treatment is administered under artificial conditions of high atmospheric pressure, or rather, high oxygen pressure. Patients are made to breathe in pure oxygen and this improves the oxygen content in the various organs and tissues, and blood plasma. Here is basic outline about the ways of operating a hyperbaric chamber.
Firstly, instruct the patients to lay on their backs. In severe cases like high-altitude sickness, support the patient’s head with a prop. Ensure that your patient is relaxed and calm through the entire treatment process.
Secondly, just like the way in which you zip the exterior of a tent, seal the hyperbaric chamber by pulling the zip of the door. Some portable models have a double-zipper system that allows access from both outside and inside in the case of a solo-operation.
Following this, gradually release oxygen into the chamber till the pressure is around 2-2.5 times compared to sea-level barometer indications, or about 2 pounds-per-square-inch approximately. The gas should be released gradually to allow the body to get accustomed to the changing situation. Continue pumping oxygen into the hyperbaric chamber until the overflow valves signal the attainment of the optimum pressure levels by making a sound similar to that of air being vented from flat tires.
Continue pumping fresh doses oxygen into the chamber every minute to avoid the concentration of carbon dioxide. If there is an automatic mechanism to remove the toxic gas, then you need not undertake this operation manually. The patient should undergo this therapy for a minimum of one hour for positive results. The chamber should then be gradually decompressed in order to re-acclimatize patients to ambient atmospheric levels.
Finally, re-examine your patients. While undergoing the treatment, the symptoms of decompression sickness and high-altitude sickness will subside. If there is no improvement in the patients’ conditions, then additional sessions are required. While conditions like high-altitude pulmonary edema requires 2-4 hours of this therapy, high-altitude cerebral edema requires 4-6. It is best to undergo this treatment only when advised by the doctor.
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy requires high levels of specialization on the part of the administrators. Therefore, it is best to do considerable research before deciding on a particular center for HBOT treatment
