We are also looking at different centers around the world for our next cover issue hyperbaric Medicine Today. I want to know if HBO is recommended as a once a month or twice a month follow up after clearing up Osteo of the pelvis. It was first done back in the 1960's. The important thing to remember is that, depending on the severity of the COPD, one will have to use different compression and decompression times than is recommended for people with normal lungs and who are cabable of clearing. There will be much longer decompression times than is usually employed.
Decompression willhave to be done very slowly.
Yes patients with COPD can be treated with HBOT by using low pressure 1.25 ATA for most patients. If there are blebs shown on chest x-ray then there is an increased risk for a pneumothorax. Patients with emphysema will usualy benefit from HBOT by decreased use of O2 and increased exercise tolerance. I have supervised the treatment of many patients with COPD in my 20 years of clinical experience in HBOT with todate no serious ccomplication. Please respond with any diving medicine, hyperbaric, or wound care related questions or comments you might have.