HYPERBARIC-OXYGEN THERAPY - A NEW TASK FO R THE ANESTHESIOLOGIST

Hyperbaric Oxygen (HBO) therapy is a kind of medical treatment in whic h a patient breathes 100% of oxygen inside a pressure chamber while th e pressure of the chamber is increased to a point higher than sea leve l pressure. It is strongly based on clearly defined physical laws and physiological regularities. For the clinical use of HBO therapy, accor ding to international recommendations, there are several commonly acce pted indications in which HBO either is the only causative life-saving kind of treatment, or is an essential and oftenly decisive component of a comprehensive interdisciplinary intensive care therapy. Among pot ential adverse effects, barotrauma of the lungs and especially oxygen toxicity to the central nervous system have to be mentioned. Clinical use of HBO therefore requires special knowledge of its effects, risks, and adverse effects, a clear and distinct indication, and the ability and skills to keep complications under control by means of intensive care or emergency medical measures. The clinical use of hyperbaric oxy gen with its interdisciplinary-like character of emergency medicine or intensive care therapy therefore should be an additional, most intere sting field of activity for the anaesthesiologist.