Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy in the Pediatric Patient: The Experience of the Israel Naval Medical Institute

Abstract

We had a favorable experience with 129 of a total 139 pediatric patients treated at our facility for the indications listed. A basic knowledge of HBO therapy is needed to refer the pediatric patient for treatment when indicated. The needs of the pediatric patient, especially the critically ill, require specific skills and equipment inside the hyperbaric chamber. Close collaboration between the pediatrician and the hyperbaric medicine physician is essential to ensure adequate care for infants and children.

Meningococcal purpura fulminans in children: I. Initial orthopedic management

“…It was not felt that the HBO therapy modified the outcome in these patients, probably because a hyperoxygenated patient is not the solution to a condition mainly due to distal thrombosis. Waisman et al report a favorable experience in children treated with HBO [18]. Recently, HBO has been described as a conservative surgical management of soft tissue necrosis in a baby [19].…”

Hyperbaric oxygen in treatment of neonatal arterial thromboembolism of lower extremities

“…4,5 The use of HBOT has been shown by several investigators to restore a favorable cellular environment for wound healing and support vascular proliferation by increasing the oxygen content of the plasma. 6,7 HBOT is currently widely used for treatment of CO intoxication, arterial gas emboli, compromised skin flaps and grafts, radiation soft tissue necrosis, osteoradionecrosis and chronic non-healing wounds. Siraneci et al 8 report the successful use of adjunctive HBOT in an infant with thrombotic purpura fulminans.…”

Hyperbaric treatment of cerebral air embolism in an infant with cyanotic congenital heart disease

“…[3][4][5] Treating critically ill small babies in a hyper- baric chamber poses special challenges and there is little published experience of these situations, 6 especially pertaining to children with cyanotic congenital heart disease (CCHD). [7][8][9] We describe HBOT of an infant with complex CCHD and CAGE.…”

“…However, if suspected on clinical grounds HBOT should not be delayed for these investigations 19 since physiologic considerations and clinical experience suggest that delays result in a worse outcome. 2,8,12,19,20 Unstable infants with CCHD are usually cared for in tertiary care centres where HBOT is readily available. If air transportation is necessary a fixed wing aircraft must be pressurized to 1 atmosphere absolute (ATA) or a helicopter must fly below 300 m to avoid bubble expansion and clinical deterioration.…”