Portable Hyperbaric Chambers

[tc]

We go straight to 165' on an AGE, patient goes on nitrox once they arrive. At 30 min into the treatment we ascend to 60. From there its basically a Navy 6 but it can be extended out if the doc feels it will benefit the patient.

We have our own set of treatment tables (Catalina Consolidated Treatment Tables or CCTT) that are similar to the Navy tables, but not identical. I just took a quick look and they're not on our web site or I'd post a link for you. I can't really address if this is "standard" since this is the only hyperbaric program I've been involved with.

 

[Thalassamania]

We simply do not have the problem with either AGE or DCS that the recreational community seems to. I'm quite sure that there is no under-reporting bias (that would have to extend to the entire team, the Operational Diving Supervisor, the ship's crew and officers ... kinda unlikely. In terms of shipboard diving, we have had one incident, that was handled with oxygen and subsequent evacuation to a U.S. Navy facility, leaving the scientist involved with a slight limp. He was disqualified from further diving, but after extensive medical work-ups (and I do mean extensive, the process stretched over more than a year) he was able to regain diving status.

 

[Bubbletrubble]

We simply do not have the problem with either AGE or DCS that the recreational community seems to. I'm quite sure that there is no under-reporting bias (that would have to extend to the entire team, the Operational Diving Supervisor, the ship's crew and officers ... kinda unlikely. In terms of shipboard diving, we have had one incident, that was handled with oxygen and subsequent evacuation to a U.S. Navy facility, leaving the scientist involved with a slight limp. He was disqualified from further diving, but after extensive medical work-ups (and I do mean extensive, the process stretched over more than a year) he was able to regain diving status.

The under-reporting scenario I imagined was limited to the diver involved and to minor DCS symptoms. In this case, the diver could say that he felt "sick" and be taken off the operational roster in the short-term. During any subsequent diving, he would be more conservative and then later, after the trip, he could reassess whether he wanted to continue diving in a professional capacity. If the specter of being banned from diving for any DCS incident does not exist, then I see no reason for the diver to hide anything. Your example of the scientist who was evacuated to the U.S. Navy facility implies that a DCS incident does not end one's scientific dive career.

Thanks for the info.

 

[Thalassamania]

Diving scientists take their safety and that of their team mates very seriously. We are a self regulated community as a result, very different from recreational, commercial or military diving. It is the scientists themselves that make the rules (a majority of each Diving Control Board must be diving scientists) and run the show. The sort of deception that you posit is, quite frankly, unthinkable. As far as the disqualified case I cited, we don't have a whole lot of experience, since we don't have a whole lot of cases. He was disqualified from further diving, but was able to regain his status with great difficulty, there's little in this world that is absolute.

 

[Kevrumbo]

btw The M/V Empress, a liveaboard that I was on and specializing in technical diving charters in the South China Sea & Indo-Pacific Regions has a 50", 2 man dual lockout recompression chamber mounted onboard. . .

 

[Bubbletrubble]

The sort of deception that you posit is, quite frankly, unthinkable.

To clarify, the diver in question wouldn't even need to be knowingly deceptive. Minor DCS symptoms (achy joints, nausea, headache, etc.) can masquerade as the flu. As you know, it's possible that "subclinical" DCS symptoms such as hypersomnolence or fatigue might manifest concurrently. It's reasonable to think: "I'm sick, so I'll probably take it easy for a couple of days." The point I was trying to make about under-reporting bias is that, in a recreational setting, there really is no long-term consequence of reporting to hyperbaric facility for treatment of minor DCS symptoms. If a review board had to become involved to determine diving fitness for the rest of one's career, I can see how that might impact one's actions (i.e., aggressively seeking recompression) given symptomatology consistent with minor DCS.

Based on descriptions of the dive training that you were involved with, I suspect that the reason the scientific community has had very few problems with AGE and Type II DCS is superior diver training. With proper buoyancy control and dive plan discipline, I think that a lot of the risk can be mitigated. Just thinking out loud here...

 

[John_Selby]

Since Google alerted me to the thread on portable hyperbaric chambers a couple of days ago, I thought that, as I have been involved with the development of the SOS Hyperlite since its initial conception in about 1988, I might offer to answer any questions that you may have regarding the unit, bearing in mind that I am an primarily an engineer and a diver, and not medically trained. Nevertheless, over the years I have learned a great deal about the applications for the unit, and obtained views on the equipment from all branches of diving, varying from 'that will never fly' to 'I wouldn't dive without it'.
Should you wish to contact us privately, please contact us through the website.
I shall endeavour to give you frank, honest answers, so that you can make up your own mind as to whether you are for or against the use of such equipment in different diving scenarios. I look forward to participating on the subject.

 

[Bubbletrubble]

@John Selby:
Are you aware of any recreational/sport diving live-aboard operations that are using your product? If so, which ones?
What is the suggested retail price of the product?
How long are the training sessions?
How much do the training sessions cost?

Thanks for agreeing to answer our questions...

 

[Thalassamania]

To clarify, the diver in question wouldn't even need to be knowingly deceptive. Minor DCS symptoms (achy joints, nausea, headache, etc.) can masquerade as the flu. As you know, it's possible that "subclinical" DCS symptoms such as hypersomnolence or fatigue might manifest concurrently. It's reasonable to think: "I'm sick, so I'll probably take it easy for a couple of days." The point I was trying to make about under-reporting bias is that, in a recreational setting, there really is no long-term consequence of reporting to hyperbaric facility for treatment of minor DCS symptoms. If a review board had to become involved to determine diving fitness for the rest of one's career, I can see how that might impact one's actions (i.e., aggressively seeking recompression) given symptomatology consistent with minor DCS.

The rules were made back in the days of clear DCI diagnosis, there was no concept of sub-clinical DCS, and this should be fixed someday. Despite this we have all sucked down a tank or two of oxygen (strictly prophylacticaly).

Based on descriptions of the dive training that you were involved with, I suspect that the reason the scientific community has had very few problems with AGE and Type II DCS is superior diver training. With proper buoyancy control and dive plan discipline, I think that a lot of the risk can be mitigated. Just thinking out loud here...

I think you're right. Better dive planning, better ascent control, etc., shows in the record.

 

[John_Selby]

I do not know of any live-aboards with Hyperlites on board. However there are some privately owned yachts with Hyperlites, with the crews trained in their operation. I know of one crew that treated a DCS case of one of the crew, with full resolution. The cost of the Hyperlite starts at around the $45,000 mark. There are units around available for rental with or without an operator, and there are also MDs who are available for expeditions etc., whether it be for a week or for a month. Training is required to operate the unit, ideally to DMT or CHT levels, but there are other qualifications that could easily be taken such as the courses conducted by the DDRC in Plymouth UK. Look them up on the internet under DDRC and select their pro-services. They note prices, dates and course durations. There are many similar courses available in different parts of the world, so those interested should investigate locally or through other training organisations. The Hyperlite is similar to other chambers and for those with qualifications, a two day course will be ample to understand every aspect of the unit.