FORT GORDON, Ga. -- After being without a doctor to oversee procedures for over a year the hyperbaric chamber at Dwight D. Eisenhower Army Medical Center has reopened with four doctors trained to oversee procedures.
"DDEAMC's hyperbaric chamber is the only clinical hyperbaric chamber in the U.S. Army and the only multiplace chamber in the Central Savannah River Area. The chamber can seat up to 12 patients and an attendant." said Lt. Col. Steven Currier, Chief of the Department of Emergency Medicine and Hyperbaric Medicine.
A multiplace hyperbaric chamber is a larger bariatric chamber that can accommodate multiple patients at one time and allow attendants to pass in an out of the chamber through an air lock to assist patients without affecting the pressure in the chamber.
Multiplace chambers are filled with regular air at different pressures with concentrated oxygen for the therapy sessions available through removable masks where as monoplace chamber are large enough for one patient and the chamber is filled with pure oxygen that can be a dangerous if ignited.
Hyperbaric chambers can be used to treat ailments including carbon monoxide poisoning, decompression sickness, Diabetic ulcers, anemia, delayed radiation injury and can help with the healing of skin grafts and flaps, burns other wounds.
"Currently there is evidence to support that hyperbaric treatments can assist with traumatic brain injuries and can reduce cognitive loss for patients of coronary artery bypass surgery or heart bypass surgery." said Currier.
The DDEAMC hyperbaric chamber provides an additional service to military divers and U2 pilots when they develop decompression sickness, sometimes refered to as the bends, which can be caused by rapid ascent after scuba diving or high altitude flights if equipment malfunctions. The chamber is registered with the Diver Alert Network for emergency treatment of decompression sickness.
The Fort Gordon hyperbaric chamber can be utilized by beneficiaries and in emergency cases for civilians with referrals from their health insurance companies due to the closest multiplace chamber being located in Atlanta, Ga.
Social Sharing