What should be done if oxygen is lost for 15 minutes to 2 hours during treatment?

When oxygen is lost during hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) for a duration of 15 minutes to 2 hours, the appropriate course of action is to continue the treatment table with maximum extensions. This approach is based on the understanding that the therapeutic benefits of hyperbaric oxygen are highly dependent on delivering a specific dose of oxygen at pressure—an interruption in oxygen supply can impact the effectiveness of the treatment.

Continuing with maximum extensions allows for the compensation of the lost time during the treatment. It ensures that the patient receives the necessary exposure to therapeutic levels of oxygen, which is crucial for promoting healing, reducing edema, and facilitating the elimination of carbon dioxide and other waste products from the body.

Starting over from the beginning may not be suitable since it could lead to a longer treatment duration without enhancing efficacy. Switching to a different therapy could also risk losing the specific benefits associated with hyperbaric oxygen treatment, especially if it was indicated for a critical condition where oxygen delivery is essential. Assessing the patient’s condition is essential, but it should be done within the context of continuing the HBOT to maintain therapeutic continuity. Thus, continuing treatment with maximum extensions is critical to optimizing patient outcomes after an oxygen loss.