Aviat Space Envir Md
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Despite ongoing controversy, hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) therapy is frequently administered in various clinical situations. Probably because of the unique atmospheric conditions to which the patient is exposed, there are concerns about the safety aspects of this therapy. Possible complications during HBO therapy include barotraumatic lesions (middle ear, nasal sinuses, inner ear, lung, teeth), oxygen toxicity (central nervous system, lung), confinement anxiety, and ocular effects (myopia, cataract growth). ⋯ Patients scheduled for HBO therapy need a careful pre-examination and monitoring. If safety guidelines are strictly followed, HBO therapy is a modality with an acceptable rate of complications. The predominant complication is represented by pressure equalization problems within the middle ear. Serious complications rarely occur.
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Aviat Space Envir Md · Feb 2000
Stretch- and H-reflexes of the lower leg during whole body cooling and local warming.
This study was undertaken to evaluate if possible changes in stretch- and H-reflexes could be related to the changes in the EMG activity of the cooled lower leg muscles observed during a stretch-shortening cycle exercise. ⋯ Cooling-induced increase in the excitability of the motoneuron pool and suppression of muscle spindle activity seem to be responsible of the EMG activity changes during the stretch-shortening cycle, consequently decreasing muscular performance.
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Aviat Space Envir Md · Feb 2000
Case ReportsPulmonary cyst and cerebral arterial gas embolism in a hypobaric chamber: a case report.
This is a report of an aircrew member who suffered a serious physiological incident in the form of pulmonary barotrauma and cerebral arterial gas embolism during hypobaric chamber training, and who subsequently was shown to have a cyst in the upper lobe of the left lung. The likely origin of the cyst is discussed, as well as the aeromedical disposition following thoracotomy and apical segmentectomy to remove the cyst.
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Aviat Space Envir Md · Dec 1999
Comparative StudyDo standard monitoring sites affect true brain temperature when hyperthermia is rapidly induced and reversed.
Accurate measurements of brain and core temperatures during warming and cooling of the whole organism, accidentally or therapeutically, are important for studies of thermoregulation and cerebral insults and resuscitation. ⋯ In normal dogs and monkeys, rectal, esophageal and nasopharyngeal temperatures are almost identical with brain temperatures; but during rapid external warming or cooling, brain temperature is reflected in nasopharyngeal temperature, somewhat in higher esophageal temperature, but not in even higher rectal temperature. For clinical monitoring during temperature changes, one should use primarily esophageal temperature and, if feasible, brain (epidural) temperature as well.
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Aviat Space Envir Md · Nov 1999
Immersion of distal arms and legs in warm water (AVA rewarming) effectively rewarms mildly hypothermic humans.
Active rewarming of hypothermic victims for field use, and where transport to medical facilities is impossible, might be the only way to restore deep body temperature. In active rewarming in warm water, there has been a controversy concerning whether arms and legs should be immersed in the water or left out. Further, it has been suggested in the Royal Danish Navy treatment regime, that immersion of hands, forearms, feet, and lower legs alone might accomplish rapid rates of rewarming (AVA rewarming). ⋯ The extremity rewarming procedure was experienced by the subjects as the most comfortable as the rapid rise in deep body temperature shortened the period of shivering. During the extremity rewarming procedures the rectal temperature lagged considerably behind the esophageal and aural canal (via indwelling thermocouple) temperatures. Thus large gradients may still exist between body compartments even though the heart is warmed.