|
Risks and Limits
of Hyperbaric Oxygenation:
All therapies have limits in terms of their use,
effectiveness and times when they should or should not be considered.
(This is part of the reason why we want therapeutic clients to provide properly
written dreams we can use as part of the diagnostic process. They will
contribute significantly to making a safer therapeutic process.)
Risks:
In some cases the use of elevated oxygen can cause
negative effects to vision. Usually impairments to vision are resolved
over a period of days to a few months, occasionally they are not. No
therapeutic standard in relation to risk has been determined, except
that by following certain procedures the likelihood of enduring
impairment is diminished. If you are in therapy and notice any
difference to your sight please tell the administrating technician as
soon as any negative effect is noticed. Do not assume the
effect will go away (although in many cases it will.)
The potential risks and risk-benefit ratio of
hyperbaric oxygen have often been underemphasized in therapeutic trials.
The side effects are often mild and reversible but they can
be severe and life threatening for some people. In general,
if pressures do not exceed 300 kPa and length of
treatment is less than 120 minutes, hyperbaric oxygen therapy
is safe. Our therapies aim to be only one hour at
pressure and seldom twice a day.
Overall, severe central nervous system symptoms
occur in 1-2% of treated patients, symptomatic reversible
pressure trauma in 15-20%, pulmonary symptoms in 15-20%, and reversible
optic symptoms in up to 20% of patients. So hyperbaric
oxygenation therapy is not without risks, however for most people the
benefits far outweigh the risks. The risks can in many cases be reduced
by slower building of pressurization and/or shorter sessions.
Reversible myopia, due to oxygen toxicity on
the lens, is the commonest side effect and can last for weeks or months.
Epileptic fits are rare and usually cause no permanent
damage. Alarmists suggesting carcinogenic effects of
hyperbaric oxygen have not been substantiated (nor can they be, as
oxygen is not a carcinogen). |
|
General
Problems
- Claustrophobia
- Reversible myopia
- Fatigue
- Headache
- Vomiting
Pressure trauma
- Ear damage
- Sinus damage
- Ruptured middle ear
- Lung damage
Oxygen toxicity
|
Fire hazard
Is the most common fatal complication (usually caused by people who
create sparks or
ignition within the pure oxygen). Procedures are well established to greatly
reduce this hazard.
Pneumothoraces must be
adequately drained before treatment with hyperbaric oxygen. Pulmonary
oxygen toxicity with chest tightness, cough, and reversible
falls in pulmonary function may occur with repeated
treatment, particularly in patients exposed to high oxygen
levels before treatment. Oxygen toxicity can be prevented in most
tissues by using air in the chamber for 5 minutes every
30 minutes. This allows antioxidants to deal with free oxygen
radicals formed during the hyperoxic period.
Decompression illness
- Decompression sickness
- Pneumothorax
- Gas emboli
Respiratory technologists are desirable personnel for
operating a hyperbaric facility, however several other areas of nursing
and therapeutic training are suited to monitor the occurrence of
problems, toxicities, illnesses and traumas. |
|
This article covers the risks of
getting therapy, however there are untold risks to people who do not get
the therapy they need. It is certainly not unheard of that people have
died while waiting for therapy. (In the province of Saskatchewan there
is only one operational hyperbaric unit in Moose Jaw with room for one person at a
time. By their own admission they only handle 2 cases per
6 weeks, not nearly enough to service the needs of a population of one
million people. (One knowledgeable source stated it requires one
hyperbaric place per 50,000 to service the needs). The hospital in Moose
Jaw only handles the 13 areas of
therapy covered by the provincial health plan, not the many other
therapeutic areas also known to be beneficial for many.) The operator
also confided they would require a far larger facility if they were to
take on doing therapy for autism and cerebral palsy or experimental
therapies. So the population is far from being served at present. |
PIERRE MAROIS, M.D., F.R.C.P.(C)
MICHEL VANESSE, M.D., F.R.C.P.(C)
HBO in the Treatment of Chronic Neurological Conditions
in Children: A Longitudinal Study
Canada
Dr. Marois originally participated in a break-through
study showing the positive effects not only of 1.75 ATA
of hyperbaric oxygenation, but also, a good result in
the “so-called” control of 1.35 air. There was a
significant difference in the rapidity and the severity
responses at the higher dose of 100% oxygen, but the
fact that the pressurized air was of some avail was
noteworthy. Here he presents the results in over 100
children treated with 1.5 ATA, 100% oxygen with
significant improvement in gross motor function (>65%)
and >80% in other areas such as cognition,
communication, fine motor abilities, and play. He
also presents children with other types of neurological
conditions including autism, Down’s syndrome,
developmental delays, traumatic brain injury, etc. with
persistent positive changes following treatment with
HBOT.
 |
Necrotic heel of diabetic patient before and
after 14 weeks of hyperbaric oxygenation |
 |
|