Oct. 2, 2002--
Science Specialist Ed Yeates reports.
In hyperbaric chambers at LDS Hospital, victims of carbon monoxide poisoning inhaled oxygen at three times the atmospheric pressure, allowing blood to dissolve a lot more oxygen than comes from a traditional face mask used in E.R.
The research involved what is called a double blind study, meaning Dr. Weaver and his colleagues did not know who was getting the hyperbaric therapy or who was getting conventional oxygen treatment.
Dr. Lindell Weaver says those treated in the chamber were 50 percent less likely to develop long term complications such as memory loss, difficulty in thinking, even depression!
"So that's a powerful effect for any treatment," he says.
Powerful because former studies already show that even low but long term exposure to carbon monoxide in a home or business produces lasting damage to the brain.
"There is some evidence that people with lower level but longer duration exposure over days or weeks of time may actually suffer more damage to the brain than a person who has a quick, although higher level of exposure," Dr. Weaver explains.
The payoff comes to people like Jennifer Mitton, who along with other members of a swim team, was overcome with carbon monoxide almost a year ago at Ben Lomond High School.
"The janitor put plastic over the vents to warm up the pool area," Jennifer recalls.
Before she was placed in a hyperbaric chamber, Jennifer did poorly in neurological tests used to measure the effects of CO poisoning in the brain. After treatment and now almost a year later, she shows no long term complications.
The study certainly may be a strong incentive now to make chamber therapy a first line defense.
