Hard vs Soft Chambers
A study sponsored by the Canadian government compared the results of hyperbaric oxygen chamber therapy for children with cerebral palsy, a severe brain disorder. Researchers assumed that the mild portable chambers would prove to be less effective than full-pressure chambers and could be disqualified as a valid form of treatment for this condition. Consequently they placed the control group of children in mild pressure chambers. To their surprise, the mild hyperbaric chambers were just as effective in bringing about clinically significant improvements as the full-pressure chambers, and within the same period of time (The Lancet, Vol 357, Feb. 24, 2001).
Acute conditions, such as deep wounds and burns, require a sterile environment. Such can be created inside the hard-shelled, high-pressure chamber by flooding it with 100% oxygen. There are other acute conditions that also strongly benefit from or necessitate the higher atmospheric pressures. This is true for compression sickness in divers ("the bends"), necrotizing subcutaneous skin infections, and acute carbon monoxide poisoning, for example.
It should be noted that high-pressure hyperbaric oxygen therapy has been associated with a variety of risks, such as oxygen toxicity, seizures, cataracts, and visual disturbances. While the risks are justified in acute situations, for less acute, more chronic conditions, there might be little to no added value that would justify the risks.
Certain medical conditions are contraindicated for high-pressure hyperbaric oxygen therapy. A condition that is always contraindicated is pneumothorax, where gas is trapped in the fluid membrane surrounding the lungs. Other conditions that are frequently contraindicated include seizure disorders, chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder, upper respiratory infections and cataracts. On occasion, the application of high pressure has resulted in seizures, vision problems or ear drum damage.
In contrast, there are no known medical risks or contraindications with mild hyperbaric therapy. The only potential side-effect is temporary irritation or light pain inside the ear if one were to continue to increase the pressure even though an ear is not equalizing and is in pain. The presence of an attentive hyperbaric therapist disallows that from happening. No contraindications exist for mild hyperbaric therapy except for sinus and ear congestion.
Full-pressure "monoplace" hyperbaric chambers, i.e., those filled with 100% oxygen, when not used with utmost precaution, have posed a potential fire safety hazard. There have been a number of fires that have occurred in chambers where 100% oxygen and pressures greater than 2 ATA were utilized. Mild-pressure chambers have never produced any fires. People have been reported to bring their computers and DVD players inside their portable chambers on a daily basis for years on end without ignition due to the lower level of oxygen in the chamber environment.
Finally, there is a potential drawback of any hyperbaric oxygen therapy that entails a high percentage of oxygen intake, because it necessarily reduces the number of negative ions being inhaled. Negative ions are important to brain function. They also make us feel good. A reduced level of negative ions has been associated with irritability, agitation and drowsiness.
Disclaimer: The preceding information comes from reading and speaking with professionals who offer hyperbaric chamber therapy. If you observe any incorrect information here, please inform us at info@hyperbarictherapycenterofrome.com. Thank you