Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy for Earthquake Victims
Kübra Özgök Kangal1, Abdullah Arslan21University of Health Sciences Turkey, Gülhane Training and Research Hospital, Department of Underwater and Hyperbaric Medicine, Ankara, Turkey2Necmettin Erbakan University, Meram Faculty of Medicine, Department of Underwater and Hyperbaric Medicine, Konya, Turkey
Earthquakes are catastrophic natural disasters. Staying under rubble for a long time may cause compartment syndrome, especially in the extremities, and crush injuries due to severe trauma. In addition, frostbite injuries may occur due to extreme climate in the winter. In hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT), patients breathe 100% oxygen in a closed chamber at pressures greater than 1 atmosphere absolute. HBOT provides elevated partial oxygen pressure, increased oxygen diffusion distance, decreased edema of the areas with circulatory disorder, augmented bactericidal effect, additive-synergistic effect with antibiotics, and enhanced wound healing. HBOT is a successful adjunctive treatment option for crush injuries, acute skeletal compartment syndromes, and frostbite injuries.
Keywords: Hyperbaric oxygen therapy, earthquakes, compartment syndrome, crush injuries, frostbiteManuscript Language: English
