Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy - Hyperbaric Chamber Information ...

An industry based code of practice, the Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Facilities Industry
Guidelines (HOTFIG) 10 , has recently been developed which addresses treatment
protocols, staffing, safety standards and industry training and certification in both
monoplace and multiplace facilities. This is a consensus document developed by the
Australian & New Zealand Hyperbaric Medicine Group (a subcommittee of SPUMS),
the Special Interest Group in Diving and Hyperbaric Medicine of the Australian and
New Zealand College of Anaesthetists, the Hyperbaric Technicians and Nurses
Association Australia, and industry representatives. An Australian standard based on
these guidelines is also under development by Standards Australia Committee SF46. A
draft, "DR 00249 Work in compressed air and hyperbaric facilities - Part 2: Hyperbaric
oxygen treatment facilities" was published for comment on 1 September 2000 and is
available from Standards Australia at http://www.standards.com.au/.
The most comprehensive Australian data available on HBOT services are self-reported
data collated by the Hyperbaric Technicians and Nurses Association (HTNA). These
data are mainly from the six public hospital hyperbaric units and two other chambers
which are used for naval and commercial diving injuries. The 1998/99 figures also
include data from two major private hospital units. Annual figures for the past three
years are at Table 2, and the number and percentage of patients by indication are at
Table 3. No data are available for HBOT services provided by stand-alone private clinics.
Table 2 Australian hyperbaric unit data
Indication
Patients treated
1996/97 1997/98 1998/99
Decompression illness 342 322 289
Radiation tissue injury 144 202 260
Problem wound healing 140 183 280
Carbon monoxide poisoning 136 135 106
Osteomyelitis 41 56 63
Acute ischaemic wound 36 48 50
Necrotising fasciitis 33 27 39
Gas gangrene 13 9 9
Spider bite 11 13 12
Other electives 101 72 90
Other emergencies 77 42 91
Total patients 1090 1141 1289
Total treatments 11785 13553 16796
6 Hyperbaric oxygen therapy