Comparison of venous, capillary and interstitial blood glucose data measured during hyperbaric oxygen treatment from patients with diabetes mellitus.

Introduction: Patients undergoing hyperbaric oxygen treatments (HBOT) have been shown to experience a reduction in blood glucose (BG) levels during a treatment. This necessitates frequent assessment of BG levels. Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) may represent an alternative to the current finger prick monitoring method in-chamber, however, continuous sensor glucose (SG) data has not been validated in situ.

Patient knowledge and experience of hyperbaric oxygen treatment.

Introduction: This paper presents a quantitative and qualitative study exploring patients' knowledge and experience of hyperbaric oxygen treatment (HBOT).

Methods: Participants included 29 patients with appropriate indications who were undertaking HBOT at facilities in two different locations: Hobart, Australia, and Plymouth, United Kingdom. Participants completed surveys prior to commencing HBOT, after five sessions, and on completion of HBOT.

Evaluation of the Abbot FreeStyle Optium Neo H blood glucose meter in the hyperbaric oxygen environment.

Introduction: This study investigated the effects of hyperbaric oxygen treatment (HBOT) on the accuracy and reliability of point-of-care fingertip capillary blood glucose values in euglycaemic non-diabetic participants compared against venous serum blood glucose samples processed in an accredited pathology laboratory.

Method: Ten non-diabetic hyperbaric staff members (age 35-55 years) underwent a standard 243 kPa HBOT exposure for 95 minutes. Blood glucose levels were measured via (i) finger-prick capillary test using the FreeStyle Optium™ Neo H glucometer and (ii) venous serum test using the Cobas 6000 laboratory analyser.

An integrative review of skin assessment tools used to evaluate skin injury related to external beam radiation therapy.

Aims And Objectives: To review literature associated with external beam radiotherapy and skin damage. A focus of the literature search is to highlight and discuss the myriad of skin assessment tools that are available to the clinician when assessing skin injury in patients receiving external beam radiation therapy.

Background: It is apparent that despite considerable work being progressed in the development of individualised skin assessment tools, uptake and use is poor.

Performance of the Baxter Infusor LV10 under hyperbaric conditions.

Introduction: Elastomeric drug delivery devices are a simple way to provide long-term IV therapy to patients in the outpatient setting. Patients receiving hyperbaric oxygen therapy occasionally need these devices. This study compared the performance of the Baxter infusor LV10 elastomeric device in repetitive conditions at pressures of 101.

Perceptions amongst Tasmanian recreational scuba divers of the value of a diving medical.

An online survey was offered to recreational divers in Tasmania to ascertain if they have an understanding of how pressure affects their health and if they considered an annual dive medical necessary. A total of 98 recreational divers completed the survey, five of these had never had a dive medical while 74 felt that if they passed their dive medical they do not have any potential illness. Sixty five saw the dive medical as a comprehensive health check.