Int J Sports Med 2001; 22(6): 424-429
DOI: 10.1055/s-2001-16247
Orthopedics and Clinical Science

© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

Administration of 100 % Oxygen in Diving Accidents - An Evaluation of Four Emergency Oxygen Devices

U. Hoffmann1 , M. Smerecnik1 , C.-M. Muth2
  • 1Department of Physiology, German Sport University, Cologne, Germany
  • 2Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, University Hospital Ulm, Ulm, Germany
Further Information

Publication History

Publication Date:
31 December 2001 (online)

As the use of oxygen enhances the resorption of gas bubbles in decompression illness, it is recommended and generally accepted that the inspired oxygen concentration in emergency treatment of diving accidents has to be as close to 100 % as possible. Therefore, several emergency oxygen devices are offered to the diving community but only with little data in literature on the efficacy of these devices. We tested four emergency oxygen devices with respect to efficacy of oxygen supply and breathing comfort at rest. Nine blinded volunteers had to breathe from the four systems with face mask and mouthpiece as well. Gases were measured with mass spectrometry during a 3 min interval from a capillary port close to the subject. The results showed that none of the systems was able to deliver 100 % oxygen all the time, but in three systems inspiratory oxygen values were achieved, although in one system the nitrogen wash-out was slowed due to air contamination during inspiration. The fourth tested system frequently supplied the subjects simply with air while breathing at rest. We conclude from our study that it is difficult to achieve oxygen levels close to 100 % in practice. Even in a perfectly working system, the interface between device and subject is a source of entrained air, especially when oxygen breathing has to be performed over a longer period of time. In addition, two of four systems had conceptional problems to supply the subjects with pure O2 during inspiration. None of the tested systems was perfectly designed to serve in such emergencies.

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Dr. Uwe Hoffmann

Deutsche Sporthochschule Köln

Carl-Diem-Weg 6
50933 Köln
Germany


Phone: +49 (221) 49 82 291

Fax: +49 (221) 49 73 531

Email: HOFFMANN@HRZ.DSHS-KOELN.DE