Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 19, 2026

Oxygenation-sensitive Cardiac MRI with Vasoactive Breathing Maneuvers for the Non-invasive Assessment of Coronary Microvascular Dysfunction
Published on: August 17, 2022
Hyperbaric oxygen: its application in cardiology: a historical perspective and personal journey
1Long Beach Memorial Heart & Vascular Institute, Long Beach Memorial Medical Center, Long Beach, CA, USA. mellestad@memorialcare.org
Abstract:
Hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) was first used by placing a patient with the "bends" in a pressure chamber and increasing the pressure to 3 atm with 100% oxygen. It was soon recognized that HBO could also facilitate wound healing in infected ischemic extremities. Before the pump oxygenator was developed, it was also shown to facilitate corrective surgery, especially in congenital heart disease. In 1997, after encouraging animal work, HBO therapy was used in conjunction with thrombolytics to reduce the magnitude of injury in patients with acute myocardial infarction. The benefit is probably due to the decrease in reperfusion injury, which has been shown to be a major cause of myocardial cell death when the culprit artery is opened with a catheter. The most recent development is to infuse saline saturated with HBO into the opened coronary artery immediately after angioplasty. An advantage of this treatment has been demonstrated in experimental animals and in man. Future applications of HBO treatment in cardiovascular disease await more research, but at this time it seems to have considerable promise.
Related Concept Videos
Treatment for Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension: Oxygen Therapy for Respiratory Failure
Oxygen therapy is vital in increasing and maintaining blood oxygen levels in PAH patients. As a result, it aids in reducing fatigue, improving...
Physiological Control of Respiration
Breathing, a seemingly passive process, is regulated by the respiratory center in the brainstem. This center coordinates the involuntary control of respirations, which means it occurs without conscious effort, ensuring a smooth and uninterrupted pattern.
Regulation of Ventilation
The body maintains ventilation by monitoring levels of carbon dioxide (CO2), oxygen (O2), and hydrogen ion concentration (pH) in the arterial blood. Among these factors, the level of CO2 plays a crucial...
Oxygen Transport in the Blood
Hypoxia
Types of Hypoxia
There are four primary types of hypoxia, each resulting from a different cause:
1. Anemic hypoxia: This type occurs due to insufficient oxygen delivery caused by a lack of red blood cells (RBCs) or RBCs with abnormal or...
Respiratory Assessment: Purpose and Indications
Objectives and Importance:
The primary goal of respiratory assessment is to evaluate patients at early risk of clinical deterioration. Since respiratory distress often precedes other signs of declining health, breathing patterns and sounds become a...
Oxygen Delivering System II: Venturi Mask and Transtracheal Oxygen
Venturi Mask
The Venturi mask, named after the Venturi effect, is designed to deliver precise oxygen concentrations. It consists of a large tube with an oxygen inlet that narrows down, causing a pressure drop that pulls air in through adjustable side ports. The mask is a lightweight,...