Complications and Contraindications
Contraindications for HBOT
There are absolute and relative contraindications for treatment in the hyperbaric oxygen chamber. Before the start of treatment, a doctor – specialist of anaesthesiology and intensive therapy with additional knowledge about hyperbaric medicine – will check you. After a detailed examination and medical history review, they will decide if you are suitable for a treatment in a hyperbaric oxygen chamber. With certain disease states, the doctor will order missing laboratory tests or diagnostic imaging (x-ray of the lungs, ultrasound of the abdomen …).
Absolute contraindications:
- untreated pneumothorax
- taking drugs such as:
- Bleomycin (an antibiotic for treating certain tumours)
- Doxorubicin hydrochloride – Adriamycin (a medicine for chemotherapy)
- Cisplatin (a cytostatic for treating cancer)
- Disulfiram – Antabus (anti-cramp medicine)
- Mefanide acetate – Sulfamylon (antibacterial medicine for treating burns and autograft)
Relative contraindications:
- asthma
- chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
- heart diseases
- pacemaker
- pregnancy
- epilepsy
- high body temperature
- dysfunction of Eustachian tube
- infections of upper respiratory tract
- claustrophobia
Complications with HBOT
The therapy in a hyperbaric oxygen chamber is in most cases a safe method but there may be some very rare complications:
- temporary near-sightedness (myopia)
- damage of the middle ear – eardrum rupture
- pulmonary barotrauma
- cramps