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Duke University Medical Center, InterGom
Hyperbaric Unit Organized
A unit has been organized at this Medical Center to explore the potential
therapeutic benefits of oxy^en inhalation at increased environmental bar
ometric ])ressnres ecinivalent to those pressures experienced when diving to
a depth of 30 to 200 feet below the surface of the ocean. This approach is
based on the fact that at increased atmospheric pressures oxygen molecules
are packed more closely together and can therefore i>enetrate into certain
organs and tissues more effectively than would be otherwise possible. In
practice, this procedure has been described as being useful in the treatment
of asphyxia from coal gas inhalation, in the management of extremities de
prived of a blood supply following accidents, in the surgery of children with
blue, unoxygenated blood due to congenital heart disease, in certain infections
and in the treatment of coronary heart disease.
Because of the broad surgical and jnedical imi)lications of this unit, a
multi-disciplinary committee has been formed to actively implement the
project. The acting Program Director is Dr. Ivan W. Brown, Jr., of the
Department of Surgery, and the Assistant Program Director is Dr. Herbert
A. Kaltzman, of the Department of ^ledicine. Other members of the opera
tional committee inchule: l)rs. II. (). Sieker, J. S. Harris, Guy Odom, Ronald
Stephen, Albert Ileyman, Ilenrj^ McIntosh and F. G. Hall. In operation the
unit is supervised bj^ Mr. Donald Aanerud, a former Navy deep sea diver and
Ihe chief ejigineer for the project.
The ])resent pressure chamber illustrated in the accomi)anying ])hotograph
is the pilot human experimental unit. Housed, at present, in a temporary
building to the rear of the (’linical Research Building, this chamber consists
of two compartments totaling 22 feet in length. It is large enough to contain
up to 8 persons in addition to the patient or experimental animal. Services
are provided to permit eifective monitoring of important chemical and
l>hysiologic functions such as blood pressure, oxygen concentration in blood,
and brain electrical activity. The lessons learned from the pilot human
chamber will be incorporated into the design of two larger units planned for
completion by 1965. These additional chambers will be large enough to permit
the ])erformance of major surgery or of extensive diagnostic procedures.
What People
Are Saying
From a patient to his wife:
Rut one thing impresses me most
so far, I have yet to meet one person
on the staif who isn’t absolutely the
most cooperative, efficient and kindest
person you could want to meet.
From a patient to a Hospital admin
istrative officer;
I want to take this opportunity to
thank you for the many courtesies
which you extended to me and my
M’ife while I was at Duke Hospital....
[ have never been treated more cour
teously or had more efficient treat
ment than I had at Duke. I hope 1
never have the occasion to go to the
hospital again, but in the event I do,
I certainly would choose Duke.
From the family of a patient:
1 want to let you know that my
family and I appreciate so much cer
tain members of your force.
Not even one do we know by name,
but ■\^■e readily recognize their smiles!
Our son’s wife was delivered of a
])remature baby and we have been so
very anxious ever since. In our fright
and anxiety that night all the doctors
on the 4th floor of Sinis-Williams
were so very lovely. So was every
jiurse and every employee. Not only
were they wonderful to our children
but to other young parents as Avell.
1 could not let today pass without
a warm thank you to each one.
This 22-foot long hyperbaric chamber is the pilot unit in a research-treatment project now
underway in the Medical Center.
MAKE YOUR PLANS NOW
nth Annual Cerebral Palsy
Football (Jlassic
Thanksgiving Day, November 28
Duke—Maryland Freshmen Game,
2 P.M.
Preceded by Midget Game, 12 noon
Advance tickets, $1.00
Gate tickets, $1.50
Gate prize; Glasspar boat with
Bvinrude motor and trailer:
Courtesy, London Marina
Sponsored by the Durham
(,’erebral Palsy Foundation
and the Durham Junior League