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Hyperbaric Explosion; URGENT NEWS UPDATE in Florida
Friday, May 1, 2009 7:23 PM
From:
"kenhbo@aol.com" <kenhbo@aol.com>
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Brought to you by American Baromedical Corporation American Baromedical Corporation
(Past publishers of the Hyperbaric Medicine Today journal Hyperbaric Medicine Today)
This update is sent to everyone in the hyperbaric community in the hopes of informing individuals and preparing facilities for the onslaught of press coverage we are about to experience.
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy is similar to flying a plane in many ways, the best and worst being that they both have tremendous safety records compared to miles flown or, in the case of HBOT, patients treated. But when there is a failure it can be, and most often is, catastrophic.
We in Ameri ca have suffered our first catastrophic failure of a hyperbaric chamber in a clinical setting. It happened late this morning on Friday, May 1, 2009 at the Ocean Hyperbaric Neurologic Center in Lauderdale-By-The-Sea, FL (a beach front community near Ft. Lauderdale, FL), open since 1972. It was founded and supervised by the late Dr. Richard Neubauer until his passing a few years ago.
We have sent a staffer to the facility to report on what happened and all initial reports indicate a failure of one of the Vickers clam shell chambers that ended in a flash fire that has left a mother and child critically injured. No one else has reported any additional injuries from the blast and there is no apparent damage on the exterior of the building.
While it is too early and careless to report anything further at this time, it is important that we as a community are clear on our message to the media about the safety and effectiveness on HBOT when it is properly utilized under current industry safety guidelines. Now is not the time to air differences with regard to which indications are treated and any protocols or chamber types that are used. That is a conversation for another day. What is important is that we provide a consistently clear message on the safe history of hyperbaric oxygen therapy in the United States.
ˇ· Facts:
Until now there has never been a fire or explosion related injury reported in any clinical hyperbaric setting anywhere in the United States.
ˇ· All industry safety guidelines call for the use of 100% cotton gowns or scrubs in monoplace chambers.
ˇ· Monoplace and multiplace safety guidelines differ and should be kept distinctly separate when discussing safety protocols.
ˇ· When properly monitored, HBO has an incredible record of safety, with minor ear barotrauma as being the single largest negative, but controllable, side effect.
ˇ· Indications for use are not relevant as to the safety of administering HBO. Patient monitoring and pre-treatment clearance are what deter mines a projected safe outcome.
While this is only intended to be a news update on current events, we will follow this story through our inside contacts and keep everyone updated on any findings. Photos and commentary will follow as news becomes available.
If you have any questions or comments and would like to direct news outlets to us, we are more than willing to discuss the safety issues at hand regarding this incident.
Our thoughts and prayers are with the family that was injured, the fellow patients affected by this tragedy, and the staff at the Ocean Hyperbaric Neurologic Center.
Sincerely,
K en Locklear, President
American Baromedical Corporation
Email: KENHBO@aol.com
561-719-4433
Woman dies a day after explosion at Lauderdale-by-the-Sea hyperbaric clinic
Italian woman's death is first from oxygen chamber in U.S.; 4-year-old boy remains in critical condition
By Rachel Hatzipanagos | South Florida Sun Sentinel 5:47 PM EDT, May 2, 2009 LAUDERDALE-BY-THE-SEA - A 62-year-old Italian tourist badly burned in an explosion at a Lauderdale-By-The-Sea clinic died this morning. Her 4-year-old grandson, who was with her in the private clinic's oxygen chamber, remains in critical condition.
The cause of Friday's explosion at the Ocean Hyperbaric Oxygen Neurologic Center is under investigation, officials said. Three of the hyperbaric chambers were taken as evidence and will be looked over by experts, said Broward Sheriff's Office spokesman Mike Jachles.
The victims were identified by the Sheriff's Office today as Vincenza Pesce and Franchesco Martinizi, both of Italy.
Pesce's death was the first from an oxygen chamber explosion in the United States, industry officials said.
"These treatments have been around for 50 years and it's a very safe treatment if done correctly," said Hope Fine, who owns and operates a Deerfield Beach hyperbaric clinic called the South Florida Center for H.O.P.E.. Oxygen chambers, also called hyperbaric chambers, are commonly used to treat diving injuries, and various other illnesses and wounds.
Pesce and Martinizi were flown to Jackson Memorial Hospital's burn unit Friday. They both had serious burns over 90 percent of their bodies. Family from Italy have traveled to South Florida to visit them, Jachles said.
There are about a half-dozen free-standing hyperbaric clinics in South Florida, said Shannon Kenitz, director of the Hacienda Heights, Calif.-based International Hyperbarics Association, which issues safety guidelines for clinics. About four of South Florida's hyperbaric clinics are approved by the IHA, Kenitz said; the center where the explosion occurred is not among them.
Unless a clinic is approved as a Medicare provider, there is no state regulation of the centers, Fine said.
The types of chambers used at the clinic appeared to be older chambers, Jachles said. Investigators do not yet know if any charges will be filed.
Individual clinics are required to keep track of maintenance records, Fine said. She said she urges patients seeking treatment to request the clinic's maintenance records for the chambers. The manufacturer of her equipment preforms once-a-year maintenance, Fine said.
"The particular chamber that they showed on the news they haven't made in 30 years," she said.
The center was founded in 1972 by Dr. Richard Neubauer, who died in 2007. Corporate records list his widow, Winnie, 83, of Pompano Beach, as its current manager. She could not be reached for comment Saturday.
Staff Writers Rafael Olmeda, Mike Clary and Alexia Campbell contributed to this report. Rachel Hatzipanagos can be reached at rhatzipanagos@SunSentinel.com or 954-385-7946.
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