Quantification of referrals received at two emergency-capable hyperbaric medicine centers

Area of Science:

• Emergency medicine
• Hyperbaric medicine
• Toxicology

Background:

• Limited data exists on the frequency of emergency hyperbaric oxygen (HBO2) treatment calls in the US.
• Understanding call volume is crucial for assessing the capacity and accessibility of 24/7 emergency HBO2 services.

Purpose of the Study:

• To quantify the number of emergency calls received by hyperbaric oxygen chambers on the US East Coast in 2021.
• To identify common indications and patterns in emergency HBO2 call volume.

Main Methods:

• Prospective logging of emergency calls received by two hyperbaric oxygen (HBO2) facilities on the US East Coast throughout 2021.
• Analysis of call dates, frequency, and primary indications for treatment.

Main Results:

• A total of 187 emergency calls were recorded at the University of Maryland (UMD) and 127 at the University of Pennsylvania (UPenn).
• Calls occurred on 46% of days at UMD and 63% of days at UPenn.
• Carbon monoxide toxicity was the most frequent indication for emergency HBO2 treatment, with a peak in call volume during March.

Conclusions:

• Emergency hyperbaric oxygen calls are a common occurrence, indicating a substantial demand for urgent treatment.
• There is a clear need for increased availability of 24/7 emergency hyperbaric oxygen services across more centers.
• Further data from diverse geographic locations is necessary to enhance the generalizability of findings and include diving-related emergencies.