Certified Hyperbaric Technologist Test Hyperbaric Emergency Medicine 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the primary treatment protocol for acute carbon monoxide poisoning using HBO?
- 3.0 ATA for 60-90 minutes, initiated as soon as possible after exposure (Correct answer)
- 1.5 ATA for 30 minutes the following day
- 2.0 ATA for 20 minutes within one week
- Any pressure for any duration
Correct answer: 3.0 ATA for 60-90 minutes, initiated as soon as possible after exposure
Acute CO poisoning treatment typically uses 3.0 ATA for a 60-90 minute oxygen breathing period, ideally initiated within 6 hours of exposure, with additional treatments based on symptom severity and COHb levels.
Question 2: How does HBO therapy treat decompression sickness (the bends)?
- By reducing bubble size through increased pressure and promoting inert gas elimination through oxygen breathing (Correct answer)
- By removing all gas from the blood
- By lowering the patient's body temperature
- By administering anti-inflammatory medications under pressure
Correct answer: By reducing bubble size through increased pressure and promoting inert gas elimination through oxygen breathing
HBO treats DCS by recompression (Boyle's law reduces bubble volume), followed by gradual decompression while breathing 100% oxygen to create a gradient that promotes nitrogen elimination from tissues and bubbles.
Question 3: What US Navy Treatment Table is most commonly used for decompression sickness?
- US Navy Treatment Table 6 (Correct answer)
- US Navy Treatment Table 1
- US Navy Treatment Table 9
- US Navy Treatment Table 3
Correct answer: US Navy Treatment Table 6
US Navy Treatment Table 6 is the most commonly used protocol for treating decompression sickness, starting at 2.8 ATA (60 fsw) with oxygen breathing periods, total treatment time approximately 4 hours 45 minutes.
Question 4: What are the symptoms of acute arterial gas embolism (AGE)?
- Sudden neurological symptoms (stroke-like), loss of consciousness, or cardiac arrest within minutes of surfacing (Correct answer)
- Gradual joint pain developing over 24 hours
- Mild skin itching and fatigue
- Only respiratory symptoms like coughing
Correct answer: Sudden neurological symptoms (stroke-like), loss of consciousness, or cardiac arrest within minutes of surfacing
AGE presents with sudden, dramatic neurological symptoms (seizures, paralysis, visual disturbances, confusion, loss of consciousness) typically within minutes of surfacing from a dive, caused by gas bubbles entering the arterial circulation.
Question 5: What is the role of HBO in treating gas gangrene (clostridial myonecrosis)?
- HBO inhibits toxin production, kills anaerobic bacteria through oxygen toxicity, and enhances antibiotic effectiveness (Correct answer)
- HBO has no effect on gas gangrene
- HBO only provides pain relief for gas gangrene
- HBO replaces surgical debridement entirely
Correct answer: HBO inhibits toxin production, kills anaerobic bacteria through oxygen toxicity, and enhances antibiotic effectiveness
HBO therapy in gas gangrene inhibits alpha-toxin production, is directly bactericidal to Clostridium perfringens (an obligate anaerobe), enhances WBC function, and supports antibiotic therapy, used as an adjunct to surgery.
Question 6: What vital signs must be continuously monitored during emergency HBO treatment?
- Heart rate, blood pressure, respiratory rate, oxygen saturation, and neurological status (Correct answer)
- Only temperature
- Only blood pressure
- No monitoring is needed during treatment
Correct answer: Heart rate, blood pressure, respiratory rate, oxygen saturation, and neurological status
During emergency HBO treatments, continuous monitoring includes ECG/heart rate, blood pressure, respiratory rate, SpO2 (though readings may be affected by pressure), neurological status, and chamber atmosphere conditions.
Certified Hyperbaric Technologist Test Hyperbaric Emergency Medicine 1
What is the primary treatment protocol for acute carbon monoxide poisoning using HBO?