Combined Hyperbaric Oxygen Partial Pressure at 1.4 Bar with Infrared Radiation: A Useful Tool To Improve Tissue Hypoxemia?

Abstract

Tissue hypoxia contributes to the pathogenesis of several acute and chronic diseases. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBO) and whole-body warming using low-temperature infrared technology (LIT) are techniques that might improve hypoxemia. Combining HBO and LIT as hyperbaric oxygen therapy combined with low-temperature infrared radiation (HBOIR) might be an approach that results in positive synergistic effects on oxygenation. LIT increases blood flow and could reduce HBO-induced vasoconstriction, and hyperoxia could compensate for the increased metabolic oxygen requirements mediated by LIT. Both LIT and HBO increase the oxygen diffusion distance in the tissues. HBOIR at 0.5 bar has been shown to be safe and feasible. However, physiological responses and the safety of HBOIR at an increased oxygen (O2) partial pressure of 1.4 bar or 2.4 atmospheres absolute (ATA) still need to be determined. The hope is that should HBOIR at an increased oxygen partial pressure of 1.4 bar be safe, future studies to examine its efficacy in patients with clinical conditions, which include peripheral arterial disease (PAD) or wound healing disorders, will follow. The results of pilot studies have shown that HBOIR at an overload pressure is safe and well tolerated in healthy participants but can generate moderate cardiovascular changes and an increase in body temperature. From the findings of this pilot study, due to its potential synergistic effects, HBOIR could be a promising tool for the treatment of human diseases associated with hypoxemia.

Figure 1

Physiological responses to hyperbaric oxygen therapy combined with low-temperature infrared radiation (HBOIR). (A) Mean heart rate. (B) Mean systolic blood pressure. (C) Mean diastolic blood pressure. (D) Mean oxygen saturation. (E) Mean core temperature. (F) Mean skin temperature (back). Physiological responses during the ten hyperbaric oxygen therapy combined with low-temperature infrared radiation (HBOIR) treatment cycles for six participants, treatment (tr) days 1–10. Means of the results for all participants on the respective treatment days are shown and were calculated over a 5-minute period, except for systolic and diastolic blood pressure (5-minute interval measurements). * p≤0.05, ** p≤0.01, for significant changes from baseline to the end of treatment. N=6 for each time point.

Figure 2

Perceptions of the participants during hyperbaric oxygen therapy combined with low-temperature infrared radiation (HBOIR). Mean visual analog scale (VAS) scores determined after each treatment day for six participants treatment (tr) days 1–10. Data are presented as means ±SEM for all participants on the respective treatment days. Visual analog scale (VAS), 0–100 mm. (N=6).

Figure 3

Changes in ambient parameters during hyperbaric oxygen therapy combined with low-temperature infrared radiation (HBOIR). (A) Mean air temperature. (B) Mean humidity. (C) Mean carbon dioxide concentration. (D) Mean oxygen concentration. (E) Mean overload pressure. (F) Mean partial oxygen pressure. Ambient parameters in the chamber during the ten hyperbaric oxygen therapy combined with low-temperature infrared radiation (HBOIR) treatment cycles for six participants, treatment (tr) days 1–10. Means for all participants on the respective treatment days are shown and were calculated over a 5 min period. * p≤0.05 for significant changes from minute 5 to the end of treatment. Data are presented for the period of time when the chamber was pressurized (minute 5) with an overload pressure of 1.4 bar. Data for partial oxygen pressure are shown for the time when oxygen administration was initiated in all participants (minute 15). (N=6).