Monocentric study of emergency indications in HBO therapy

Introduction:

For several years, the number of patients seen in the emergency room and emergency service for HBO therapy increases. In particular, the lately occurring CO intoxication through the use of coal grills in enclosed spaces or hookahs led us to the question of whether they are isolated cases or whether these indications occur regularly.

Method:

We analyzed the patient population of the Düsseldorf HBO Center from 2017 to October 2018 retrospectively with regard to an emergency indication, the disease and the average age for the years 2017 and 2018.

Results:

A total of 148 patients were treated as emergency in HBO therapy in 2017 and 146 in the year up to and including 10/2018. In 2017, 139 patients and up to and including 10/2018 122 patients had CO intoxication, including 17/21 (2017/2018) due to a fire, 48/40 by a defective gas boiler, 43/37 by shisha and 29/14 by the use of a coal grill in closed rooms. The average age of the patients was 50 years in a fire, 31 years in a defective gas boiler, 22 years in shisha and 40 years in the use of a coal grill in the closed room.

Conclusion:

Overall, it has been shown that approximately half of the emergency indications were caused by the improper use of a charcoal grill in a closed room or by shisha. In our view, the education of young people and young adults in dealing with CO sources should be significantly improved. A hyperbaric oxygen therapy with CO Intoxication loads the health service with 1294 €.

Publication History

Publication Date:
23 April 2019 (online)