Discussion: Oxygen saturation levels during a mild hyperbaric chamber treatment
In this study, it was hypothesized
ed that during a mild HBOT at 1.3 ATA with oxygen supplementation oxygen saturation levels would increase to near 100%. This was observed to be true. Interestingly, although 1.3 ATA and supplemental oxygen increased oxygen saturation the most, it was not the only setting that brought oxygen saturation levels to near 100%. Oxygen supplementation alone also increased to this level. Although there continued to rise in oxygen saturation percentages with increased atmospheric pressures alone, the increases were not as significant as those that included supplemental oxygen. Results were consistent regardless of treatment order. Based on the results, the level of atmospheric pressure did make a difference in oxygen saturation percentages in comparison to the other settings.
In current related research studies, treatment parameters include a placebo setting which is typically set at 1.3 ATA and a treatment group that typically receives 2.0 ATA. The outcome of many of these studies concludes that the benefits obtained from HBOT were the same regardless of the placebo setting or the treatment group setting. To reach oxygen saturation levels nearest 100% it can be concluded that a 1.3 ATA with supplemental oxygen treatment can prove to have the greatest increase in oxygen saturation percentages.
Clinical implication:
Mild HBOT is a good resource for clinicians. With the information obtained from this study, we can see that mild HBOT at 1.3 ATA with oxygen supplementation brought on oxygen saturation levels nearest to 100%. Although oxygen supplementation alone increased oxygen saturation levels to near equal results, there still proves to be a greater oxygen saturation at 1.3 ATA with oxygen supplementation. Additional measurements are needed to determine whether the increased pressure and oxygen supplementation has an effect beyond what is measurable with a pulse oximeter. With this information, clinicians can choose to use the appropriate chamber parameters that provide the greatest increase in oxygen saturation and therefore result in the best clinical outcomes for tissue healing.
