Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy and Spaceflight
Abstract
Intro: Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) is the mainstay of treatment for Decompression illness (DCI). Additionally, it is an established treatment for radiation injuries, carbon monoxide poisoning, thermal burns, ischaemic limbs, gangrene, serious infections and sudden sensorinerual hearing loss and retinal artery occlusion. This paper puts forward the possibility that the space craft airlock, utilized as a hyperbaric chamber is a readily accessible critical care adjunct that could be helpful with beyond low earth orbit space missions. In particularly, it may have a role as a countermeasure for radiation injuries. This article aims to review the current state of research on the use of hyperbaric oxygen therapy as a countermeasure in human spaceflight and its potential applications. Methods: A search of MEDLINE, PUBMED, EMBASE, and Cochrane databases was conducted for studies in English evaluating the use of hyperbaric chambers for soft tissue radiation injuries in space. The terms "Hyperbaric oxygen therapy" "airlock" and "space". Results: Three studies were found evaluating the possibility of HBOT being used during spaceflight and were included in this literature review: a position paper, a cost analysis and a report into the future of hyperbaric therapy in space. No studies focussed on long duration spaceflight or beyond low earth orbit. Discussion: All studies demonstrated that HBOT is a potential critical care asset able to be utilized on both low earth orbit and beyond low earth orbit missions. All studies focused on DCI as the main therapeutic application of HBOT. No studies focused on hyperbaric therapy as an adjuvant to radiation injuries. Radiation exposure poses not only short term sequelae of acute radiation sickness and CNS disturbances, but also long term issues of multi-system soft tissue degeneration and radiation carcinogenesis. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) long been an established effective certain radiation injuries, including radiation proctitis, radiation cystitis, and radiation induced soft tissue injuries. Conclusion: Further research is required in this field, in particular, research to determine the role hyperbaric oxygen therapy could provide as an adjuvant to comprehensive medical care. More research and development must be completed in order to allow this technology to become more optimized and utilized for future manned spaceflight.
- Publication:
-
43rd COSPAR Scientific Assembly. Held 28 January - 4 February
- Pub Date:
- January 2021
- Bibcode:
- 2021cosp...43E2021O