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HYPERBARIC OXYGEN THERAPY: User Guidance |
We have heard that when a deep sea diver comes up too fast from great depths, then gasses dissolved into his blood under pressure start to bubble out of solution, causing air embolus, that causes severe pain and may even cause death. These divers are immediately placed inside a pressure chamber where air pressure is kept at deep sea level, and then released slowly to enable gasses to dissolve out harmlessly and out of lungs. These chambers are now being used therapeutically in Multiple Sclerosis, and now in cerebral Palsy.
Loss of function to the brain is due both to tissue destruction
(irreversible) and to tissue swelling, which can be reversed. Humans use
only up to 20% of their brain capacity throughout their lives, and it has been
shown that dormant cells around the destroyed areas can be revived and taught to
take over the function of the dead cells.
Computerized scanning of subjects has identified the tissue swelling (which in
cases is extensive) as being caused by damaged blood capillaries leaking fluid
around the area of cell death. Pressure is thus put on healthy brain tissue
preventing all but a maintenance blood supply getting through.
An increased amount of oxygen is necessary to heal these capillaries. Under normal conditions there is a limit to the amount of oxygen that can be carried by the red blood cells to be delivered to the plasma for transference to the tissues (0.3 ml/dl). Moreover, the capillary damage prevents red blood cells getting through to the areas where oxygen is most needed.
However, giving oxygen under increased atmospheric pressure dramatically increases the oxygen carried in the blood plasma (4 to 6 ml/dl : representing a several fold increase). Increasing oxygen intake to the bloodstream actually causes the blood vessels to shrink, reducing the amount of edema and making the blood 'oxygen-rich'. Thus the net result of giving HBO therapy, by both increasing oxygen delivery and decreasing fluid outpouring, is that oxygen-rich plasma is able to run freely into constricted areas of capillary damage in the brain to promote healing.
Scans indicate that, during HBO therapy, capillary healing occurs, fluid leakage is reduced, swelling recedes and effective blood supply is thus restored to previously oxygen-restricted brain tissue.
With the help of exercise and therapeutic treatment, functional ability can begin to be restored, as newly revived brain cells are trained to take over the function of dead cells.
Reference : Hyperbaric Oxygen Trust Information For Parents Leaflet.
Ryton House, Primrose Lane, Forest Row, East Sussex. RH18 5LT (UK)
Generally, there is no danger involved.
As long as the parent has the all clear from his/her doctor then this is fine. At the multiplace chamber used by the children of UDAAN, one parent always carries the child and is present throughout, though breathing ordinary air inside the chamber.
Access to a Hyperbaric chamber and all the facilities that go with it. This
is the hard part. In India, there is a large chamber at Mumbai (Bombay)
belonging to the navy, and single patient small chambers at a few centers,
mostly belonging to the Armed forces. The first civilian large chamber capable
of taking in 8 sitting or two stretcher cases plus supervisory staff, has come
up at Apollo Hospital Delhi. Abroad, many centers are in operation in
US/UK/Europe, but very few elsewhere. The other main requirement is a 'Free-flow
Oxygen Hood' for your child to wear, and optional 'Screw-fit' adapters for the
hoses. Adult size hoods are easily available but infant size hoods are not
available that easily.
This is where the Belgian Business Association and the
Belgian Embassy comes in. They perceived the need to help these handicapped
citizens, and their magnanimity arranged the delivery of the first such masks in
the civilian sector to help these children.
It depends on whose regime is being followed. At some places, sessions are an
hour at 24 feet below sea level. Allow at least two hours in total. You will
need to get you child comfortable and load in all your toys and books. It also
takes some time to pressurize and de-pressurize the chamber. Once the therapy is
over you will also need to remove everything again.
At UDAAN, we provide 15 minutes to pressurize to and 15
minutes to depressurise from, a pressure of 1.75 Atmospheric pressure; we give
100% Oxygen for only 60 minutes during the pressurized state. These limits are
as per the recommendations of the FDA of USA for small children with CP.
However, at UDAAN, we use a regimen of 40 days at a stretch, with Sundays off. We have been very satisfied with the tolerance, safety and efficacy so far.
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