What Researchers Did
Doctors reported the case of a 33-year-old non-smoking nurse who worked as an inside attendant in a multiplace hyperbaric chamber and developed occupational asthma as a result of her regular exposure to pressurized oxygen.
What They Found
The nurse developed coughing, wheezing, and fatigue after beginning work inside the hyperbaric chamber. Her symptoms improved when she took a break from chamber work to attend a nursing certification course, then returned when she resumed the role. Spirometry confirmed airflow obstruction consistent with occupational asthma, and she ultimately had to stop working in the chamber environment.
What This Means for Canadian Patients
This case is most relevant for healthcare workers employed inside hyperbaric chambers. Canadian HBOT facilities should screen inside attendants for respiratory conditions before employment, monitor lung function regularly during their tenure, and have a clear protocol for managing respiratory symptoms that develop on the job.
Canadian Relevance
No direct Canadian connection identified.
Study Limitations
This is a single case report, and the specific cause of the asthma, whether high oxygen concentration, increased pressure, or other chamber exposures, was not definitively established.