What should be monitored in a patient undergoing HBOT?

Monitoring vital signs such as oxygen saturation and blood pressure during Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) is crucial to ensure patient safety and treatment efficacy. This practice allows healthcare providers to assess the patient's physiological response to the therapy, as changes in vital signs can indicate potential complications or adverse reactions to the increased oxygen levels.

During HBOT, patients are exposed to higher-than-normal atmospheric pressure, which can significantly affect how their bodies function. For example, monitoring oxygen saturation is essential as this therapy aims to increase the amount of oxygen delivered to tissues, helping to promote healing in conditions like decompression sickness and chronic non-healing wounds. Blood pressure monitoring is also important since it helps identify any cardiovascular responses related to the therapy.

Other options such as monitoring emotional state, diet, and medication efficacy can be important in a broader treatment context, but they do not directly address the immediate physiological changes that can occur during HBOT. Thus, while comprehensive care may involve those aspects, the priority during HBOT is to closely monitor vital signs to provide the safest and most effective care.