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 or hyperbaric oxygen chambers 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 HBOT chambers are now being used therapeutically in Multiple Sclerosis, and now in cerebral Palsy and autism treatments.

Are there any restrictions on who can take part in the hyperbaric therapy?

• There are a few restrictions in getting hyperbaric oxygen treatment, e.g. those with certain medical conditions or being pregnant should not take part. The most important thing to stress is that before anything like this is undertaken, consult with the child’s doctor first (provided the doctor himself is well trained in HBOT therapy). He/she should then be able to warn of any problems they can foresee.
• Once treatment is underway in the hyperbaric chambers , common sense is really the best approach. For example if a child with autism is ill, or has a bad case of the flu etc. just give the therapy a miss for a few days.
• The above also applies to parents/helpers who will be entering the HBOT chambers. They will probably be required to get a doctor’s letter first.

The following conditions and medications may not be compatible with hyperbaric treatments utilizing hyperbaric chambers:

Conditions

• Pregnancy- while in some cases, women are able to receive treatment utilizing mild hyperbaric oxygen chambers, the contraindication is absolute for traditional hard-shell hyperbaric chambers
• Congenital spherocytosis – a genetic disorder of the red blood cell membrane characterized by anemia, jaundice (yellowing) and splenomegaly (enlargement of the spleen)
• Untreated pneumothorax – free air in the chest outside the lung that requires aspiration of the free air and/or placement of a chest tube to evacuate the air
• Upper respiratory infections – These conditions can make it difficult for the patient to clear their ears, which can result in what is termed sinus squeeze.
• Severe emphysema and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients with either of these conditions may cease breathing if placed in a hyperbaric chamber because their lungs only breathe when it detects enriched levels of CO2.

Medications

• Cis-Platinum– a chemotherapy agent most often used to treat lung cancer
• Disulfiram (Antabuse®)– an oral tablet used to treat chronic alcoholism
• Doxorubicin (Adriamycin®)– a medication used in cancer chemotherapy

• Mafenicde Acetate (Sulfamylon®)– a topical cream used to prevent and treat bacterial or fungus infections (primarily from burns)