Hyperbaric medicine: state of the art, 1979

An attempt has been made to determine the clinical usage of hyperbaric oxygen therapy at 83 North American hyperbaric treatment centers from 1971 to 1978. Questions were asked about the conditions or diseases treated, yearly case load for each condition, location of functional hyperbaric chambers, types of chambers used, operating costs, and personnel requirements. Commercial diving chambers that treat decompression sickness and air embolism from diving accidents were included in the last two years of the survey. Fifty-seven responses were received; 30 treatment centers had multiple chambers, 24 had monoplace chambers, and three had both types of chambers. A total of 10,942 patients were treated during the eight-year survey period; 8,408 patients (76%) had category I or II conditions, as defined by the Undersea Medical Society. Of the 20 most commonly treated conditions, 17 were in category I or II. During the survey period, the use of hyperbaric oxygen increased, particularly in the treatment of decompression sickness, carbon monoxide poisoning, and osteomyelitis and osteoradionecrosis.