Hyperbaric stretcher

Abstract: : Hyperbaric support for mass casualty injuries resulting from military operations or catastrophic events (i.e., earthquakes, toinadoes, etc.) presently relies upon host country, or at best, local hospital facilities for admimstration of this therapeutic modality. To get HBO as close to the point of wounding as tactically possible, thus advancing our wartime readiness mission, and addressing the Joint Health Service Support Plan: Vision 2010, easily transportable HBO systems were sought to support deployed aeromedical evacuation operations from remote theaters of operation. The Emergency Evacuation Hyperbaric Stretcher (EEHS) system provides a ready means of quickly initiating treatment at the incident site and transporting the casualty under pressure to a rear-echelon treatment facility, reducing the risks of peimanent injury to warfighters suffering from conditions benefited by treatment with hyperbaric oxygen.

Abstract: : The U.S. Navy identified a need for portable and collapsible one-man hyperbaric chambers, called Emergency Evacuation Hyperbaric Stretchers (EEHS), which could be used as a means of transporting submarine rescuees suffering from Decompression Sickness (DCS) or Arterial Gas Embolism (AGE) to a recompression chamber for treatment. This report discusses the possible uses of such a system in the U.S. Navy Submarine Rescue Mission. Medical indications and contraindications for use of the system are reviewed. Characteristics of the currently favored system are described. Triage algorithms and treatment guidelines are presented for submarine escape, submarine rescue, and evacuation using the EEHS. The EEHS represents a significant advance in acute management of distressed submarine casualties, but many logistical issues will require careful consideration and planning.

Abstract: The risk of a scuba diver developing decompression illness (DCI) is viewed as an associated occupational hazard of compressed gas diving for the recreational, scientific, public safety and commercial diving industries. Each diving community has various techniques, procedures and approaches to help mitigate these risks in the diving populations they serve. If a diver is stricken by DCI or “the bends” and is not promptly and adequately treated, then that diver runs the risk of permanent medical or neurological deficit which could affect not only his/her future livelihood but also their quality of life. This paper explores the efficacy of the HyperliteTM, a portable “folding” hyperbaric stretcher, for field treatment of decompression illness. The deployment and use of this pressurization system is discussed in relation to an actual diving accident case where availability of a Hyperlite helped to mitigate and provide prompt therapeutic hyperbaric oxygen treatment (HBOT) to a diver suffering vestibular (inner ear) decompression sickness.