Barotherapy is a method of treatment with a mixture of air and oxygen under pressure slightly above atmospheric. The physical essence of the method is based on the property of a liquid to dissolve more gas in itself at elevated pressure. The therapeutic principle of HBO is a significant increase in the partial pressure of oxygen in biological tissues. The human body mainly consists of water. The patient, as soon as one close the pressure chamber, finds himself in an elevated pressure zone in an oxygen-saturated atmosphere, as a result of which more oxygen is absorbed by the body.
Barotherapy quickly and effectively eliminates the oxygen debt of the body, activates systems of biological protection, simultaneously inhibiting lipid peroxidation and lipid oxidation (POL) of cell membranes.
Whatever the disease is, the cell dies by a single mechanism - the lipid peroxidation of its membrane. POL is a chain of chemical reactions of formation of radicals (chemicals with free valence), an example of which can be atomic oxygen. The latter takes electrons from the membranes of the surrounding substances (from the lipids of the cell membrane, for example), and the substance instantly loses its original properties. Hypoxia increases the "peroxide load" on the cells. In the 100% oxygen there is a threat of over-oxidation, to which the body reacts with a powerful release of antioxidants, and the latter systems of biological protection neutralize the radicals.
The method, of course, is not a panacea, since the individual reserves are different, the systems of biological protection weaken with age and due to many factors, but for radiation sickness it has proved its effectiveness.
Ionizing radiation, passing through living tissue, causes the formation of overactive short-lived (10-16 sec.) radicals, which in seconds cause irreversible fatal changes in cells. Professor B.N. Tarusov propose the idea that overactive short-lived radicals initiate an avalanche of POL of cell membranes, which further lead to such rapid cell death, that the biological defense systems do not even have time to start, therefore the use in the shortest possible time of antioxidants and HBO is effective in seemingly hopeless cases.
As an alternative to hyperbaric oxygenation, the Buteyko method (breathing exercises), high-altitude hypoxytherapy, low-pressure baro-chamber therapy, and normobaric intermittent may be mentioned.
Mountain climbers have a bag of Gamow, a nylon chamber inflated by a foot pump. The bag acts on the principle of hyperbaric oxygenation - saturation of the body with oxygen under pressure. When the bag inflates, it increases pressure and increases the concentration of oxygen, which creates the effect of lowering the height, and oxygen under a higher pressure penetrates the blood more actively.
The first method of hyperbaric therapy was a rubberized oxygen-filled pillow with a hose and a mask. During the Great Patriotic War oxygen tents were created, that saved many lives from gangrene.
Dr. Boyle created a chamber to study the effect of "compressed" air in 1660, in 1664 Dr. Henshaw used the compressed air as a healing factor. The results were impressive enough for the creation of sealed pressure rooms in Sweden, Germany, England and Belgium. Nine such clinics existed in Russia in the XIX century.
The Dutch surgeon Borema is considered the founder of classical hyperbaric oxygenation. In 1956, in animal experiments, he proved the possibility of survival in conditions of 100% oxygen at a pressure above atmospheric. And then cheap methods of obtaining pure oxygen appeared.
Quickly enough portable pressure chambers entered professional sports. In Kazan they were purchased for mobile medical centers at the time of the Universiade, and since then they have become increasingly popular due to the stable positive results of their use. A barotherapy session in the pressure chamber, especially after extreme physical exertion, allows you to more quickly remove lactic acid, reduces muscle pain, increas endurance of the body, activate systems of biological protection. Unlike the medical pressure chamber, in a portable comfort level is higher - you can use modern gadgets and read.
Nursing homes in the USA are equipped with pressure chambers, and sessions in them reduce the risk of developing cerebrovascular diseases.
International Society of Underwater and Hyperbaric Medicine brought the following indications for hyperbaric oxygen therapy: air or gas embolism, carbon monoxide poisoning with cyanide poisoning, gas gangrene, crush syndrome, decompression sickness, trophic ulcers, acute massive hemorrhage, intracranial abscess, refractory osteomyelitis, delayed radiation damage to soft tissues, rejected skin flap, thermal burns and frostbites.
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