Hyperbaric Therapy and Autism Ranking:

Risks and Safety

Hazards

According to Latham (2016)

"As with any medical therapy, treatment brings both risks and benefits. One of the more frequently seen injuries caused by hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) is barotrauma (ie, injuries caused by pressure as a result of an inability to equalize pressure from an air-containing space and the surrounding environment)."

According to the Food and Drug Administration (2013)

"Patients receiving HBOT are at risk of suffering an injury that can be mild (such as sinus pain, ear pressure, painful joints) or serious (such as paralysis, air embolism). Since hyperbaric chambers are oxygen rich environments, there is also a risk of fire."

According to Health Canada (2005)

"When used to treat recognized medical conditions, hyperbaric oxygen therapy is generally safe, as long as:

• the chamber is properly installed according to municipal and provincial regulations;
• operators and attendants are properly trained; and
• a certified hyperbaric physician is either on site, or can be reached easily and quickly.

"However, there are risks. Before consenting to treatment, you should consider these factors:

• Pressure inside the chamber can damage the middle and inner ear, nasal sinuses, lungs and teeth in both adults and children.
• Some people experience claustrophobia inside the chamber.
• The therapy may affect your eyes, for example by promoting nearsightedness or cataract growth.
• Because hyperbaric oxygen therapy affects blood sugar levels, diabetics should have their levels checked before and after treatment.
• A high concentration of oxygen can cause serious complications in some children who have congenital heart disease.
• Too much oxygen can sometimes, although rarely, lead to overload that can cause seizures and lung problems. This is usually prevented by having the patient take breaks to breathe normal air instead of pure oxygen.
• High concentrations of oxygen at elevated pressures can pose a risk of fire.

"There is also a risk the chamber might explode if it has not been properly installed or if the staff is not properly trained. In addition, it may be difficult or impossible for operators to deal with medical emergencies that may come up when patients are isolated inside the closed chamber."

Contraindications

According to Latham (2016)

• people with untreated pneumothorax (collapsed lung) or who are taking any of the following medications (Bleomycin, Cisplatin, Disulfiram, Doxorubicin or Sulfamylon) should never undertake hyperbaric therapy (Absolute contraindication)
• people with the following conditions or devices (asthma, claustrophobia, congenital spherocytosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, eustachian tube dysfunction, high fever, pacemakers or epidural pain pump, pregnancy, seizures, upper respiratory infection) should use hyperbaric therapy with extreme caution (Relative contraindication).

Updated

17 Jun 2022

Last Review

01 Sep 2016

Next Review

01 Dec 2022