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Definition of Therapy
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy
involves the systemic delivery
of oxygen within the hyperbaric
chamber at values two to three
times greater than atmospheric
pressure. Patients are placed in
the hyperbaric chamber and breathe
100 percent oxygen while exposed
to elevated ambient pressures.
As an application of an
established technology,
hyperbaric oxygen therapy is
helping to resolve a growing
number of difficult, expensive
or otherwise hopeless medical
problems.
Physiological Basis of Therapy
and Mechanisms of Action
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy
within a Sechrist hyperbaric
chamber results in a variety of
physiological activities. Some are related
directly to elevated pressures;
others are related to increased
oxygen effects in the blood
stream, tissues and cells.
Treatment pressures
greater than sea level results
in:
-
Elimination of intravascular
and tissue gas bubbles,
which trigger coagulopathy
and other mechanisms in the
complex diving disorder,
decompression sickness.
-
Restoration of CNS perfusion
by compression of
intravascular gas emboli in
pulmonary over-pressure
diving accidents or
iatrogenic intravascular gas
embolism.
-
Increased
partial pressure of oxygen
(tension) which increases
the amount of oxygen
dissolved in plasma. This
can increase oxygen levels
to approximately 450 mmHg at
the tissue level.
The effects of increased
oxygen tensions are seen in
a variety of different
situations:
-
Vasoconstriction and
reduction of edema in the
area of trauma. Oxygen tension
may be 10 to 20 times
that achieved by normobaric
oxygen breathing.
-
Rapid dissociation of carbon
monoxide molecules from
hemoglobin and cytochrome A3
oxidase (23 minutes at 3
ATA) as well as greatly
improved delivery of
dissolved oxygen in the plasma.
-
Stimulation of growth and
occurrence of fibroblasts, osteoclasts and
granulocytes, resulting in
wound healing. The resulting
angiogenesis enhances
healing skin grafts, select
problem wounds and
compromised flaps.
-
Cessation of alpha toxin
production by the
clostridial organisms in gas
gangrene.
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