Cardiorespiratory alterations in patients undergoing hyperbaric oxygen therapy

Objective: To evaluate cardiorespiratory alterations due to a single session of hyperbaricoxygen therapy. Method: Randomized study with patients: a control group and hyperbaricoxygen therapy. Evaluations occurred in the beginning, during, and after exposureto pure oxygen above atmosphere for 2 hours. Systemic blood pressure, peripheraloxygen saturation, pulse rate, lung volume and lung capacity, and maximal inspiratoryand expiratory pressures were evaluated. Peripheral oxygen saturation, pulse rate, andsystemic blood pressure were evaluated during the pressurizing in the first hour. Datawere evaluated by means of ANOVA, Mann-Whitney, and independent t-test (p<0.05).Results: A total of 14 adult patients were evaluated. In the group under therapy (sevensubjects), aged: 49.57±14.59 years, there was a decrease in the pulse rate of 16 beatsper minute after 35 minutes of therapy (intragroup analysis), and the peripheral oxygensaturation was higher within the same period compared to the control group. Conclusion:The hyperbaric oxygen therapy promotes cardiorespiratory alterations with the increaseof the peripheral oxygen saturation and decrease of the pulse rate, without