Authors: Tuna Gumus.
Introduction: The aim of this study is to share our experiences with other hyperbaric clinics and healthcare professionals in their fight against other possible pandemics ahead. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is a treatment performed in a fully enclosed pressure chamber, with multiple patients and an inside attendant nurse. During therapy, the probability of infecting each other and the inside attendant nurse is much higher than the external environment. The first detected case of the COVID-19 pandemic in Turkey which has spread around the world, was announced by the Ministry of Health on March 11. We had to take precautions in our hyperbaric oxygen therapy center.
Methods: Before the pandemic, twelve patients were treated in a session, we carry out three sessions in a day. During pandemic six patients attended the same places in the same session. Patients shortened the hospital stay and avoided contact with other patients by coming during their own session. The sphygmomanometer and blood glucose meter were cleaned after each patient use to avoid cross-contact. At the end of each session, floors and seats inside the decompression chamber were wiped. Masks and tubes were washed with glutaraldehyde free high level disinfecting solution (CidexR OPA solution). The clothes were prepared by washing and ironing before each use every day [4]. COVID-19 PCR testing was requested from each new patient whose treatment was started and after the result was negative, the session was started. Patients with positive PCR test before the session were not treated.
Results: Throughout the year 2021, a total of 796 HBO therapy sessions with an average of six patients were carried out, and we had six patients whose COVID-19 PCR test became positive in three separate sessions while receiving HBO therapy despite all the precautions.
Conclusions: During the pandemic process, we continued to carry out hyperbaric oxygen therapy to emergently admitted and elective patients in our clinic by observing the social distance rules and using protective equipment during the pandemic. We observed successful results of risk and emergency planning.
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