Complications of hyperbaric oxygen therapy
While it's generally very safe, as with all medical treatments, Hyperbaric oxygen
therapy, Lubbock TX carries with it the risk of complications that in rare
instances can be life threatening and/or result in permanent or long-term
disability.
Barotrauma of the ear
Barotrauma is a term that
refers to injury due to increased pressure. Barotrauma of the ear is the most
frequent complication of HBO. The
middle-ear is an air-filled cavity behind the ear drum that connects to the
throat through a slit-like passage called the eustachian tube.
Round or oval window rupture
Round and/or oval window
rupture is a phenomenon related to ear barotruama. The round and oval windows
are membranes separating the air-filled middle ear from the fluid-filled inner
ear.
Sinus squeeze
Similarly to the
middle-ear, the sinuses are air-filled spaces in the skull. Failure to equalize
the pressure in the sinuses and the external environment
leads to severe pain and possibly bleeding into the sinuses.
Tooth squeeze
Recent dental work can
leave air-filled voids in teeth. The inability to equalize the pressure in
these pockets can lead to pain and even cracking of the teeth.
Pneumothorax or pulmonary barotrauma
This generally occurs in
patients with air trapping lesions in the lungs, such as can occur in emphysema
or asthma. During decompression, these
air-filled pockets will begin to expand, and, if the pressure is not relieved
by the airways in the lungs, these pockets can rupture.
Oxygen toxicity seizures
The high level of oxygen
in the blood that occurs during HBO treatments can be
toxic to the central nervous system and can result in seizure activity. Treatment
consists of simply removing the supplemental oxygen from the patient, which
will terminate the seizure.
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