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"Does hyperbaric chamber attendance pose an asthma risk? Case report"

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"Does hyperbaric chamber attendance pose an asthma risk? Case report"

Short running title: Hyperbaric chamber attendance and asthma Levent Demir1, MD, E-mail: mdleventdemirr@gmail.com

1 Department of Hyperbaric Medicine; Kayseri City Hospital, Kayseri, Turkey

Keywords: hyperbaric oxygen therapy, inside attendant, lung function, occupational asthma Address: Department of Underwater and Hyperbaric Medicine, Kayseri City Hospital, Kayseri, Turkey Mobile Phone: +90 532 322 02 40

Compliance with Ethical Standards: This study did not require approval from an ethics committee. Funding: This study has been written without support of any found.
Disclosure of potential conflicts of interest
The authors declare they have no conflict of interest.

Informed consent

It was ensured that the case gave informed consent.

ABSTRACT

This report details a case study of a non-smoking 33-year-old female nurse who developed occupational asthma as an Inside Attendant (IA) in a hyperbaric chamber. The report analyzes the nurse's medical history, working environment, and potential causes. After beginning work in the hyperbaric chamber, an IA experienced respiratory symptoms, including coughing, wheezing, and fatigue. Her symptoms improved during a break attending a hyperbaric nursing certification program but returned when she resumed work in the IA hyperbaric chamber. Spirometry confirmed airflow obstruction, and the IA was subsequently diagnosed with occupational asthma. As a result, the IA had to terminate their employment in the hyperbaric chamber. The literature review indicates that diving and hyperbaric exposure can negatively

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affect respiratory function, particularly in individuals susceptible to respiratory issues. We emphasize the necessity for further research on the effects of hyperbaric exposure on the respiratory system of IAs.

Keywords: hyperbaric oxygen therapy; inside attendant; lung function; occupational asthma Key points:

  • The literature review indicates that diving and hyperbaric exposure can negatively affect respiratory function, particularly in individuals susceptible to respiratory issues.

  • Inside attendants (IAs) accompany patients in the multi-place chamber for technical support and medical care. Due to their long-term exposure to high-pressure environments, they are exposed to occupational risks.

  • Working in a hyperbaric environment may cause respiratory symptoms such as weakness, cough, and wheezing, leading to a diagnosis of occupational asthma.

  • The report emphasizes the need for further research on the effects of hyperbaric exposure on IAs' respiratory systems and the importance of closely monitoring IAs' respiratory symptoms for potential occupational respiratory impairments.