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Medical Gas Research 2021Hyperbaric oxygen therapy refers to inhalation of pure oxygen in a closed chamber. Hyperbaric oxygen has a therapeutic effect in numerous pathological conditions, such... (Review)
Review
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy refers to inhalation of pure oxygen in a closed chamber. Hyperbaric oxygen has a therapeutic effect in numerous pathological conditions, such as decompression sickness, arterial gas embolism, carbon monoxide poisoning and smoke inhalation, osteomylitis, osteoradionecrosis and wound healing. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is used for treating underlying hypoxia. This review indicates the action of hyperbaric oxygen on biochemical and various physiological changes in cellular level. Narrative review covers the current indications and contraindications of hyperbaric oxygen therapy. The review also focuses on the therapeutic effects of hyperbaric oxygen pretreatment and precondition in different pathological conditions. The complications and side effects of hyperbaric oxygen therapy are discussed.
Topics: Humans; Hyperbaric Oxygenation
PubMed: 33642335
DOI: 10.4103/2045-9912.310057 -
Przeglad Epidemiologiczny 2016High-altitude illness is a result of prolonged high-altitude exposure of unacclimatized individuals. The illness is seen in the form of acute mountain sickness (AMS)... (Review)
Review
High-altitude illness is a result of prolonged high-altitude exposure of unacclimatized individuals. The illness is seen in the form of acute mountain sickness (AMS) which if not treated leads to potentially life-threatening high altitude pulmonary oedema and high-altitude cerebral oedema. Medical problems are caused by hypobaric hypoxia stimulating hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) release. As a result, the central nervous system, circulation and respiratory system function impairment occurs. The most important factor in AMS treatment is acclimatization, withdrawing further ascent and rest or beginning to descent; oxygen supplementation, and pharmacological intervention, and, if available, a portable hyperbaric chamber. Because of the popularity of high-mountain sports and tourism better education of the population at risk is essential.
Topics: Altitude Sickness; Humans; Hyperbaric Oxygenation; Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1
PubMed: 27888818
DOI: No ID Found -
Clinical and Experimental Rheumatology 2020Fibromyalgia (FM) is a frequently encountered syndrome that is characterised by chronic widespread pain, fatigue, sleep disturbances, and many other symptoms that impair... (Review)
Review
Fibromyalgia (FM) is a frequently encountered syndrome that is characterised by chronic widespread pain, fatigue, sleep disturbances, and many other symptoms that impair the quality of life. Its aetiopathogenesis is still unclear but, although there is no specific therapy, a number of pharmacological and non-pharmacological therapies are available. The aim of this review is to describe the most recent findings concerning the diagnosis, aetiopathogenesis and treatment of FM published between January 2019 and January 2020. They include the new concept of nociplastic pain, some neuroendocrine and metabolic alterations found in FM patients, and investigations concerning not only novel applications of old drugs, but also, and in particular, complementary therapies, such as the hyperbaric oxygen chamber, ozone therapy and mindfulness-based interventions.
Topics: Chronic Pain; Complementary Therapies; Fatigue; Fibromyalgia; Humans; Quality of Life
PubMed: 32116216
DOI: No ID Found -
Restorative Neurology and Neuroscience 2020Previous studies have shown that hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) can improve the motor functions and memory of post-stroke patients in the chronic stage.
BACKGROUND
Previous studies have shown that hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) can improve the motor functions and memory of post-stroke patients in the chronic stage.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of HBOT on overall cognitive functions of post-stroke patients in the chronic stage. The nature, type and location of the stroke were investigated as possible modifiers.
METHODS
A retrospective analysis was conducted on patients who were treated with HBOT for chronic stroke (>3 months) between 2008-2018. Participants were treated in a multi-place hyperbaric chamber with the following protocols: 40 to 60 daily sessions, 5 days per week, each session included 90 min of 100% oxygen at 2 ATA with 5 min air brakes every 20 minutes. Clinically significant improvements (CSI) were defined as > 0.5 standard deviation (SD).
RESULTS
The study included 162 patients (75.3% males) with a mean age of 60.75±12.91. Of them, 77(47.53%) had cortical strokes, 87(53.7%) strokes were located in the left hemisphere and 121 suffered ischemic strokes (74.6%).HBOT induced a significant increase in all the cognitive function domains (p < 0.05), with 86% of the stroke victims achieving CSI. There were no significant differences post-HBOT of cortical strokes compared to sub-cortical strokes (p > 0.05). Hemorrhagic strokes had a significantly higher improvement in information processing speed post-HBOT (p < 0.05). Left hemisphere strokes had a higher increase in the motor domain (p < 0.05). In all cognitive domains, the baseline cognitive function was a significant predictor of CSI (p < 0.05), while stroke type, location and side were not significant predictors.
CONCLUSIONS
HBOT induces significant improvements in all cognitive domains even in the late chronic stage. The selection of post-stroke patients for HBOT should be based on functional analysis and baseline cognitive scores rather than the stroke type, location or side of lesion.
Topics: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Brain; Cognition; Female; Humans; Hyperbaric Oxygenation; Male; Memory; Middle Aged; Oxygen; Retrospective Studies; Stroke
PubMed: 31985478
DOI: 10.3233/RNN-190959 -
Diving and Hyperbaric Medicine Jun 2018Divers suspected of suffering decompression illness (DCI) in locations remote from a recompression chamber are sometimes treated with in-water recompression (IWR). There... (Review)
Review
Divers suspected of suffering decompression illness (DCI) in locations remote from a recompression chamber are sometimes treated with in-water recompression (IWR). There are no data that establish the benefits of IWR compared to conventional first aid with surface oxygen and transport to the nearest chamber. However, the theoretical benefit of IWR is that it can be initiated with a very short delay to recompression after onset of manifestations of DCI. Retrospective analyses of the effect on outcome of increasing delay generally do not capture this very short delay achievable with IWR. However, in military training and experimental diving, delay to recompression is typically less than two hours and more than 90% of cases have complete resolution of manifestations during the first treatment, often within minutes of recompression. A major risk of IWR is that of an oxygen convulsion resulting in drowning. As a result, typical IWR oxygen-breathing protocols use shallower maximum depths (9 metres' sea water (msw), 191 kPa) and are shorter (1-3 hours) than standard recompression protocols for the initial treatment of DCI (e.g., US Navy Treatment Tables 5 and 6). There has been no experimentation with initial treatment of DCI at pressures less than 285 kPa since the original development of these treatment tables, when no differences in outcomes were seen between maximum pressures of 203 kPa (10 msw) and 285 kPa (18 msw) or deeper. These data and case series suggest that recompression treatment comprising pressures and durations similar to IWR protocols can be effective. The risk of IWR is not justified for treatment of mild symptoms likely to resolve spontaneously or for divers so functionally compromised that they would not be safe in the water. However, IWR conducted by properly trained and equipped divers may be justified for manifestations that are life or limb threatening where timely recompression is unavailable.
Topics: Decompression Sickness; Diving; Humans; Hyperbaric Oxygenation; Retrospective Studies; Water
PubMed: 29888380
DOI: 10.28920/dhm48.2.84-95 -
Clinical Medicine (London, England) Nov 2021Long COVID is a common occurrence following COVID-19 infection. The most common symptom reported is fatigue. Limited interventional treatment options exist. We report...
BACKGROUND
Long COVID is a common occurrence following COVID-19 infection. The most common symptom reported is fatigue. Limited interventional treatment options exist. We report the first evaluation of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) for long COVID treatment.
METHODS
A total of 10 consecutive patients received 10 sessions of HBOT to 2.4 atmospheres over 12 days. Each treatment session lasted 105 minutes, consisting of three 30-minute exposures to 100% oxygen, interspersed with 5-minute air breaks. Validated fatigue and cognitive scoring assessments were performed at day 1 and 10. Statistical analysis was with Wilcoxon signed-rank testing reported alongside effect sizes.
RESULTS
HBOT yielded a statistically significant improvement in the Chalder fatigue scale (p=0.0059; d=1.75 (very large)), global cognition (p=0.0137; d=-1.07 (large)), executive function (p=0.0039; d=-1.06 (large)), attention (p=0.0020; d=-1.2 (very large)), information processing (p=0.0059; d=-1.25 (very large)) and verbal function (p=0.0098; d=-0.92 (large)).
CONCLUSION
Long COVID-related fatigue can be debilitating, and may affect young people who were previously in economic employment. The results presented here suggest potential benefits of HBOT, with statistically significant results following 10 sessions.
Topics: Adolescent; COVID-19; Humans; Hyperbaric Oxygenation; Oxygen; SARS-CoV-2; Post-Acute COVID-19 Syndrome
PubMed: 34862223
DOI: 10.7861/clinmed.2021-0462