The first days of the new year for the Navy opened, as well as in the sign of operational commitment, also in that of service to the community. In fact, the hyperbaric chambers of the Military Hospital of Taranto and the Underwater Command and Incursors of La Spezia have been activated for the treatment of civilian patients suffering from particular pathologies.
In Taranto on January 5, a couple of elderly spouses suffering from acute carbon monoxide poisoning underwent an emergency treatment of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (OTI). The request for intervention has led to the activation of the team composed of health personnel, diver and technician of the Navy in full synergy with the hyperbaric resuscitation staff of the ASL of Taranto, allowing quickly to perform a cycle of sessions in the hyperbaric chamber avoiding worse consequences for the two patients.
"This type of treatment serves not only to avert the immediate risks deriving from intoxication, but also to avoid the danger of neurological consequences ”as highlighted by Captain Fiorenzo Fracasso, Head of Hyperbaric Medicine Service. "The personnel of the Navy involved, in addition to the tasks of the institute, also perform their service for the benefit of the population and, by always dealing with this type of activity in a very professional manner, they also contribute to saving lives".
Only a few days later, the 8 January in La Spezia, an elderly woman suffering from algodystrophy syndrome was instead subjected to an initial treatment of hyperbaric oxygen therapy in election.
The hyperbaric systems of the Navy, located respectively at the Underwater Command and Incursors of La Spezia and the Military Hospital Center of Taranto, represent unique realities within the respective Provinces as regards the management of hyperbaric emergencies and emergencies which include, in addition to accidents decompression divers, carbon monoxide poisoning, skin ulcers, sudden deafness, aseptic osteonecrosis of the femoral head, various forms of gangrene, severe crush injuries and risk fractures. These activities are carried out in accordance with precise indications and rigorous protocols of use in continuous and synergistic collaboration between Navy personnel (health workers, divers, civilian technicians) and hyperbaric resuscitators referring to the local ASLs with whom there are specific collaboration agreements.
On the territory of Puglia, the Navy is at the forefront of 2003 in the management of hyperbaric emergencies with 1130 patients treated at the Military Hospital Center of Taranto (for a total of 8269 sessions), while from October 2016 up to now are about 1000 sessions performed in favor of the civilian population at the hyperbaric plant of the Diving and Incursor Command of La Spezia.