Clinical Hyperbaric Oxygenation with Severe Oxygen Toxicity

HYPERBARIC oxygenation has recently been used in the successful treatment of severe anaerobic infections.1 2 3 Because of these favorable reported results, we gave a patient with an overwhelming anaerobic infection hyperbaric oxygenation in addition to standard forms of therapy. Initially, she improved during treatment and appeared to tolerate easily the high oxygen tensions and increased atmospheric pressures. With further hyperoxygenation treatments, however, convulsions and breathlessness occurred. Ultimately, she died while manifesting severe respiratory insufficiency, and marked pulmonary oxygen toxicity was confirmed at autopsy. Because these serious hazards of therapeutic hyperbaric oxygenation are not fully appreciated, this case report has been prepared. . . .