Hyperbaric Emergency Medicine Flashcards
6 cards from real Certified Hyperbaric Technologist Test practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 Hyperbaric Emergency Medicine flashcards as text
What is the primary treatment protocol for acute carbon monoxide poisoning using HBO?
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.
How does HBO therapy treat decompression sickness (the bends)?
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.
What US Navy Treatment Table is most commonly used for decompression sickness?
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.
What are the symptoms of acute arterial gas embolism (AGE)?
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.
What is the role of HBO in treating gas gangrene (clostridial myonecrosis)?
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.
What vital signs must be continuously monitored during emergency HBO treatment?
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.
How this page was made: written with AI tools and published by Nathan Beja, founder of Practice Test Geeks, who is responsible for its content. Exam facts are checked against the official sources listed below. Not reviewed by a subject-matter expert. Editorial policy
Sources & references
Exam facts on this page (fees, format, dates, passing scores) are checked against these official sources; the date is our last check. Editorial policy
- nbdhmt.org — Renewal, eligibility, exam format, passing score, retake policy, score validity, fees, retake fee, test delivery, registration deadline · verified Oct 2026