Differential diagnosis, on-site management, evacuation protocols and definitive therapy will be discussed, as will the role of the monoplace chamber. Presentation, differential diagnosis and management guidelines will be reviewed. In a recent report, it was found that when hyperbaric oxygen therapy was used to arrest the progression of a skeletal compartment syndrome,the cost of management was one-fourth that of surgically treated compartment syndromes. While not proposed in severe cases, the use of HBO in compartment syndrome in selected cases is based on its ability to decrease tissureedema, hyperoxygenate tissue and overcome diffusion barriers. The evidence for its role in the management of crush injuries is reviewed in detail .
Anaerobic infections are among the most challenging infectious disease problems.
Optimum management in may instances mandates a combined therapeutic regimen using antibiotics and surgery in combination with hyperbaric oxygen. There is a growing body of evidence to indicate that HBO provides a number of benefits, which include detoxification of the patient, enhanced white cell activity and a synergistic enhancement of selected antibodies. The therapy of burns is directed a minimizing edema, preserving marginally viable tissue, enhancing host defenses and promoting wound closure. Adjunctive hyperbaric oxygen can attack all of these problems directly through a combination of mechanisms. Basic research, controlled clinical studies and cost impact will be reviewed.