Monoplace chambers: Opinions

[Dave Covey]

I'd appreciate some opinions re the use of Monoplace chambers in treating Divers. My opinion is that it's not a good idea for a number of reasons, inc;

1) There's no tender to assist if patient suffers an 02 hit.

2) It's difficult/impossible to empty your bladder (or stretch your legs) during a 5 hr treatment.

3) Outsized divers can't get in!!

[David Walker]

I'd appreciate some opinions re the use of Monoplace chambers in treating Divers. My opinion is that it's not a good idea for a number of reasons, inc;

Well yeah... that's why they don't use them in the UK anymore (at least not that I know of). Any problems and you either watch them die through the window until the end of the treatment, or depressurise them to help, which if it's a real medical problem you're going to have to do very quickly, likely making the bend worse and possibly i suppose killing them anyway.

David

[AQUABIN]

:=I'd appreciate some opinions re the use of Monoplace chambers in treating Divers. My opinion is that it's not a good idea for a number of reasons, inc;

Well yeah... that's why they don't use them in the UK anymore (at least not that I know of). Any problems and you either watch them die through the window until the end of the treatment, or depressurise them to help, which if it's a real medical problem you're going to have to do very quickly, likely making the bend worse and possibly i suppose killing them anyway.

David

My boy was treated in this one and its still in operation according to their website.

Rgds
Matt

[Dave Covey]

My boy was treated in this one and its still in operation according to their website.

.....dive related or HBO tx?

[David Walker]

My boy was treated in this one and its still in operation according to their website.

Says it only goes up to 2 or 3 bar, is that enough for diving? Not sure what other treatments require compression, but i'd have thought they wouldn't put anyone critically ill in them do they?

David

[Martin]

take a look at the national hyperbaric centre website - <a href="http://www.hyperchamber.com" >http://www.hyperchamber.com</a> - they describe nicely the other conditions where HBO therapy is useful.

The most notable emergency would be carbon monoxide poisoning.

If you take a look at the NOAA diving manual, you will find it describes in some detail and very well the principles of treating decompression illness, and you will see the depths (pressures) used for treatment on those tables. They are also described on the above website. for recreational divers, US navy tables 5 and 6 are most common. You will see the max depth used is 18m. That's 2.8 bar.



:=My boy was treated in this one and its still in operation according to their website.

Says it only goes up to 2 or 3 bar, is that enough for diving? Not sure what other treatments require compression, but i'd have thought they wouldn't put anyone critically ill in them do they?

David

[Dave Covey]

... i'd have thought they wouldn't put anyone critically ill in them do they?

Thats entirely my point, are they safe/recommended for a standard USNTT6 (5hr tx)?

[AQUABIN]

... i'd have thought they wouldn't put anyone critically ill in them do they?

Thats entirely my point, are they safe/recommended for a standard USNTT6 (5hr tx)?



Dave
Dive related, they were unsure so they popped him in for 5hrs.
Fortunately it was not DCI as the treatment didnt alleviate the symptoms, which, post pot he told me he'd had for a few weeks!
numb wrists, he had just bought a new guitar, kids eh ;-)

Matt

[iain-hsm]

I'd appreciate some opinions re the use of Monoplace chambers in treating Divers. My opinion is that it's not a good idea for a number of reasons, inc;
1) There's no tender to assist if patient suffers an 02 hit.
2) It's difficult/impossible to empty your bladder (or stretch your legs) during a 5 hr treatment.
3) Outsized divers can't get in!!


As in all things there are alternatives:
1. A mono place chamber means that it is just a single lock chamber it is not the same as a single person chamber or a shallow medical 18MSW treatment chamber. For divers a two person single lock chamber for 55MSW depth is standard, these chambers include closed and semi closed built in breathing (BIBS) for up to 40 hours, C02 scubbers, lighting comms and a small transfer/ medical lock for locking in/out food, drugs, and waste. A diver medic or diver tender is with the patient throughout the treatment and in the unlikly event of an 02 hit the BIBS revert to Air, as they normally do during the 5 min air breaks. Further the latest designs use a 50/50 oxy helium mixture and reduce treatment depth from 50msw to 30 msw breathing 50/50 for the 30msw range and 02 for the shallower treatment depth. This reduces the major Table 4. treatment time of 38 hours down to apx 5 hours. A small transfer pod locks into the end to make then into a twin lock chamber or allow a transfer under pressure to a larger chamber.
2. Body fluids and waste are simple to remove, use a pot with powder turning pee into a jelly, then simply "lock it out" the small medical lock.
3. Outsize divers? Chambers are 30 inch diameter, suggest diver takes fitness medical and doctors advise before diving, or diet.

In a remote area or during deep prolonged diving an embolism is the worst possible incident, these chambers can "smash" a diver back down to 50 msw within 2 mins to reduce bubble formation. The alternative of waiting for medivak/helicopter etc should not go without consideration. Weight is 240 kgs cost 10K to 30K.

The average cost to the NHS of sports diver treatment in the UK is 15K per diver. The average cost for a Seaking helicopter is 5K per hour, also the coastguard. Not withstanding the cost to the RNLI at no charge!!!). For example DDRC in Plymouth treated over 50 divers a year with a turnover over more than one million ?1,000,000 last year from payments from the NHS for sport diver treatment. IMHO it is a serious business and a sport not worth dying for.