Monoplace and Multiplace Chambers
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy can be conducted in single person chambers, or in chambers that can hold more than a dozen people at a time. During therapy in a monoplace chamber, a single patient is placed in a pressurized clear, acrylic chamber, about seven feet long, while pure oxygen is compressed into the chamber. The chamber is comfortable, with an atmosphere similar to that of an airplane. The patient lies on a padded table that slides into the tube, and is asked to relax and breath normally as the chamber is gradually pressurized with pure oxygen. Chamber pressures typically rise to two-and-a-half times the normal atmospheric pressure. Ear popping or mild discomfort may be experienced, but this generally subsides if the pressure is lowered. The session can last anywhere from thirty minutes to two hours, at the end of which technicians slowly depressurize the chamber.
Monoplace chambers cost less to operate than multiplace chambers and are relatively portable. Monoplace chambers are also far less expensive than their larger counterparts, a fact that has allowed hospitals to institute HBO programs more cost effectively. The internal environment of a monoplace chamber is maintained at 100% oxygen, so the patient does not need to wear a mask.
Multiplace chambers are large tanks able to accommodate anywhere from two to fourteen people. These chambers are commonly built to reach pressures up to 6 atmospheres and have a chamber lock entry system that allows medical personnel to pass through without altering the pressure of the inner chamber. This system allows patients to be directly cared for by staff within the chamber. The chamber is filled with compressed air, and patients breathe 100% oxygen through a facemask, head hood, or endotracheal tube.
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