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| Title: | OXYGEN POOLING IN A DUALPLACE HYPERBARIC CHAMBER |
| Authors: | Worth, ER
Dale, HM
Cochran, SK |
| Keywords: | multiplace
hyperbaric
chamber
oxygen pooling
fire
risk
equipment |
| Issue Date: | 2005 |
| Abstract: | BACKGROUND: Is oxygen pooling a potential problem in a dualplace hyperbaric chamber? My oxygen monitor works, so what's the worry? We hypothesize that there is oxygen pooling in dualplace chambers. While the in-chamber oxygen monitor may read less than 24percent, there are areas with oxygen concentrations much higher. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We used a Perry Sigma II dualplace hyperbaric chamber with entry lock for this study. A MiniOX III oxygen analyzer was used for spot sampling and the built-in Teledyne oxygen analyzer for fixed sampling. Both analyzers had new sensors. We built a tubular support structure to hold sampling tubing at 4 pre-determined heights (chest, knee, floor, and exhaust levels) in the chamber. An oxygen hood was placed on blanket rolls to simulate being in the chamber on a patient's lap. We then pressurized the chamber while sampling oxygen values every 5 fsw until we reached the target of 28 fsw. The exhaust rate was set to minimum during the pressurization. RESULTS: With oxygen flowing uninhibited through the BIBS during pressurization, the built-in oxygen analyzer rarely read over 25percent. Chest-level measurements in the aft-, mid-, and fore-chamber sampling sites mirrored the built-in analyzer readings. With the oxygen source in the aft chamber, sampling in that area had the highest oxygen readings. Floor and exhaust level measurements were significantly higher than chest level measurements. Knee level measurements were only slightly higher than the built-in oxygen analyzer readings. CONCLUSIONS: Oxygen does pool in a dualplace hyperbaric chamber. Oxygen concentrations are significantly higher at the floor and below deck levels. Therefore, we conclude that gas admixture is not uniform throughout the chamber. With current ventilation designs in multiplace hyperbaric chambers, departments should consider monitoring oxygen concentrations near the exhaust level of the chamber. Finally, oxygen sources should be carefully checked prior to pressurization in all cases. |
| Description: | Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society, Inc. (http://www.uhms.org ) |
| URI: | http://archive.rubicon-foundation.org/1626 |
| Appears in Collections: | UHMS Meeting Abstracts
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