Introduction to Hyperbaric Oxygen Chambers for Air Pressurization

Most hospitals use hyperbaric oxygen chambers for... Hyperbaric oxygen therapy of Grade 2 or other levels. An air-pressure hyperbaric chamber is a method in which pure oxygen or high-concentration oxygen is inhaled under high pressure (superatmospheric pressure) to treat hypoxic diseases and related conditions. Generally, hyperbaric oxygen therapy in an air-pressure hyperbaric chamber can achieve excellent results for all hypoxic and ischemic diseases, as well as a range of conditions caused by hypoxia and ischemia, such as brain injury and post-stroke sequelae. Moreover, for certain infectious diseases and autoimmune disorders, hyperbaric oxygen therapy in an air-pressure hyperbaric chamber can also yield favorable outcomes.

What is the principle behind hyperbaric oxygen therapy? For instance, in cases of brain cell damage caused by traumatic brain injury, cerebral hemorrhage, encephalitis, or brain tumors—where the brain cells haven't died but have experienced a decline in function— Around 50%, which leads to various symptoms in patients, such as coma, hemiplegia, and aphasia. Currently, the oxygen supply to brain cells is limited by the blood flow to those cells. Since we cannot significantly increase blood flow to the brain, we need to boost the oxygen content in the blood itself. For example, under normal conditions, 1 milliliter of blood carries 10 units of oxygen. However, after undergoing hyperbaric oxygen therapy in an air-pressure chamber, the same 1 milliliter of blood can carry as many as 20 units of oxygen. As a result, although the same volume of blood continues to enter the brain tissue, it now carries much more oxygen. This allows brain cells to absorb more oxygen and begin to repair themselves.

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy offers certain advantages in terms of oxygen delivery. It has a wide range of clinical indications and can serve as an adjunctive treatment for various diseases; however, its therapeutic effects should not be underestimated. Hyperbaric oxygen should be used in combination with different medications and incorporated into comprehensive treatment strategies tailored to specific diseases.

Air-pressure oxygen chamber therapy also has certain side effects. 1. Oxygen toxicity occurs when the body is exposed to high concentrations of oxygen for an extended period, leading to systemic and enzymatic poisoning, the excessive production of oxygen free radicals, and subsequent damage to the body. 2. Barotrauma—including common middle ear barotrauma, sinus barotrauma, and pulmonary barotrauma—can occur. However, in general, as long as the air-pressure oxygen chamber is operated strictly according to the instructions and in compliance with established standards, these conditions are extremely rare.