A Typical Oxy Health Low Pressure Hyperbaric Therapy Chamber
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Our own Low Pressure Chamber
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LOW PRESSURE HYPERBARIC OXYGEN THERAPY FOR CP |
We were recently invited to present our findings on UDAAN Multimode Therapy including Hyperbaric Oxygenation, for early medical intervention for CP at Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA (17 to 19 July 2003). There, a number pf papers were read, suggesting that perhaps 1.75 ATA pressure may not be needed, and that a lower pressure may also suffice. But, how low???
| Dr.
Philip James University of Dundee Scotland |
Dr. James
mentioned that the McGill study, reported in Lancet, showed important
clinical benefits in children treated at 1.3 ATA and normal air. At this
level, the plasma oxygen tension rises by almost 50%, and the same is true
for oxygen al the mitochondrial level. A TV Director filming a program at 16,737 ft, developed severe altitude sickness. He was relieved by rapid descent within 40 minutes to 5362 Ft. This caused an atmospheric pressure difference of of only 0.1 ATA, with only an increase of 0.05 atm abs in partial oxygen pressure. This minor increase in oxygenation was enough to revive him. This suggests that the rate at which level of oxygen is increased is important and that there is a critical threshold for oxygenation. |
| Dr.Kevan
P Corson USA |
Fourteen
children with CP, mean age 38 months, we treated with HBOT at 1.5 ATA for
60 sessions of an hour each. Modest decreases in spasticity and improvements in the modified GMFM scores occurred in all the children completing the study. Fine motor function and visual evoked potential were also benefited. |
| Dr.Paul
Harch Louisiana State University School of Medicine New Orleans USA |
To date, nearly
500 patients with over 50 neurological conditions have been treated on a
low pressure protocol, with beneficial results.
To re-establish these data, a series of animal model experiments were also done, using standard brain trauma, followed by the HBOT protocol after 49 days. The protocols were 80 BID of 1.5 ATA/90 HBOTs in 19 animals and 80 BID sham air treatments in 23 animals. The follow up biopsy evaluations showed that Low Pressure HBOT increased hippocampal vessel density ratio (injured/uninjured ratio). Using an ANOVA procedure, it was found that HBOT significantly improved spatial memory in the Morris water tract but not in motor function. |
| Dr.Efrain
Olszewer Sao Paulo Brazil |
Twenty six
children, aged less than 5 years, with spastic CP, were given HBOT at 1.2
ATA, thrice a week for 4 weeks and twice a week for 4 weeks, for 45 minute
sessions each. The results were compared with an earlier study using 1.7
ATA HBOT.
The results obtained in both groups were similar and showed encouraging improvement. |
| Dr.Nachum
Gall Zerifin Israel |
Six infants with
CP received HBOT at 1.1 ATA, for 60 minutes x 40 sessions.
Three infants improved; none worsened. |
M/s. Oxyhealth Corporation have a portable low-pressure (1.3 to 1.4 ATA) HBOT chamber; see below, at the moment approved for use only in high altitude sickness. It seriously needs to be studied to assess its application in low pressure HBOT for CP in developing nations who cannot have access to standard pressure (Previously 1.75 ATA, but now 1.5 ATA considered better and safer) HBOT in metal Monoplace or Multiplace chambers that cost a lot to acquire and run. The Quebec HBOT in CP Study, reported in Lancet in 2001, showed conclusively that the benefits of HBOT (3% improvement in 2 months compared to usual non-HBOT improvement of 0.3% in 3 months) was statistically similar whether 1.75 ATA with 100% Oxygen used or 1.3 ATA with ambient air used. based on that, we have started our own investigation to compare 1.5 ATA with 100% Oxygen vs. 1.3 ATA with ambient air (Using the Oxy Health chamber).
A Typical Oxy Health Low Pressure Hyperbaric Therapy Chamber
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Our own Low Pressure Chamber
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Acknowledgement: We are thankful to Mr. Samir Patel, President of Oxy Health Corporation, LA, USA for donating to us the chamber on above right, for bringing affordable Hyperbarics to the economically disadvantaged children of India and for all his help so far as well as the continuing interest and promise of further help in this matter.
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