Publication

Abstract : Background: The limited inter- disciplinary recognition of hyperbaric medicine and the physicians’ unfamiliarity has lead to under utilization of HBOT as adjunct therapy in defined conditions. Objective: To explore the trends in hyperbaric oxygen therapy in relation to demographic variables, applications and indications so as to form a baseline framework for further specific research studies. Materials and Method: A quantitative retrospective study done in 530 subjects who underwent HBOT from 2015 to 2018 in a tertiary care hospital, Kochi. Data was collected from patients’ electronic medical record using a self developed observation record. Total enumerative sampling was used. Results: Nearly half (48.9 %) of the subjects who underwent HBOT were elderly i.e. in the age group 57-70 years. Majority were males (64.9 %). 88.9 % were residents of Kerala and 6.2 % were from abroad. 48.7 % of the subjects received 6- 10 cycles of therapy. Only 13 % of the subjects received more than 10 cycles. Majority 302 (57.0 %) of the sample underwent HBOT for acute indications. Among the 14 universally accepted acute conditions, post anoxic encephalopathy was found to be the main indication (49.7%). Malignancy related injury was the major condition (46.0%) found among the subjects with post anoxic encephalopathy to seek HBOT, and trauma being the least (7.3 %). Around one third of the patients 203 (38.3 %) had chronic indications .Among the four universally accepted chronic indications, diabetic wound was the main (45.3%) followed by radiation tissue damage (29.0%). 9 subjects (1.7%) had both acute and chronic indications for taking HBOT. Conclusion: This study has shown a wide use of HBOT as an adjunct therapy for a variety of acute and chronic conditions. However more outcome oriented research is required to prove its efficacy in specific conditions.