[Hyperbaric oxygenation and arteriopathies]

Hyperbaric oxygen (O.H.B.) in arteriopathies of the limbs was tested in 2 021 patients over a period of time extending from 1966 to 1983. Therapeutic pressure varied from 2 to 2.4 absolute atmospheres (A.T.A.) as it is specified using plethysmography. The therapeutic periods at a frequency of 1 or 2 per day according to clinical characteristics have 1 hour duration for a total of 30 therapeutic periods. No complication was observed using this technique. O.H.B. increased the oxygen debt by enriching the blood in O2. The plethysmographic controls showed in 40% of cases a transport of circulating masses from healthy territories in vasoconstriction to the non responding hypoxic territories. An over-oxygenation of the additional blood resulted in ischaemic zones. This study suggests that O.H.B. may be an important method of treatment of patients with asymptomatic arteriopathy.