Final answer:
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy involves placing a client in a hyperbaric chamber to breathe pure oxygen at high pressure. It increases oxygen saturation in tissues, enhancing immune response, fighting anaerobic bacteria, aiding wound healing, and treating carbon monoxide poisoning. Proper skin preparation is necessary, avoiding lotions and perfumes.
Step-by-step explanation:
Understanding Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy
The subject in question is related to hyperbaric oxygen therapy, a medical procedure that involves a client being placed in a hyperbaric chamber. This chamber allows for breathing of pure oxygen at pressures higher than the typical atmospheric pressure, which can range between 1 to 3 atmospheres (atm). The therapy aims to increase oxygen saturation in tissues, especially those that become hypoxic due to infection or inflammation, thereby enhancing the body's immune response and fighting off anaerobic bacteria, which thrive in environments low in oxygen. Also, hyperbaric therapy can displace carbon monoxide from hemoglobin in cases of poisoning, as well as assist in healing wounds and grafts by stimulating ATP production essential for cellular repair.When preparing for hyperbaric therapy, clients should wash their skin with water and pat it dry without the use of lotions, petroleum products, perfumes, or occlusive dressings, as these can interfere with oxygenation of the skin. There are two major types of hyperbaric chambers: monoplace, for a single patient, and multiplace, which can accommodate multiple patients and has staff present inside the chamber during treatment. The therapy has various applications, including treating infections, carbon monoxide poisoning, promoting wound and graft healing, as well as assisting divers suffering from decompression sickness, commonly known as 'the bends'.