ABSTRACT
A systematic review was made in several databases from the browser of Metalib. The search was made with the keywords: Hyperbaric Medicine; Attendants; Decompression sickness; Venous gas embolism; Bubbles; Dysbaric Osteonecrosis and in theses and dissertations with the keywords: Medicina Hiperbárica; Occupational Health; Hyperbaric Medicine; Decompression sickness; Venous Gas Embolism; Attendant; HSP70; Doppler; Bubble; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Dysbaric Osteonecrosis; HBO; DCS. Search in Rubicon Database with the keywords: Risk; Decompression Sickness; Hyperbaric
1 INTRODUCTION
The hyperbaric medicine is practiced in many countries. In recent years, the developments in technology and therapeutic has been significant. In Europe there are 220 Hyperbaric Centers (Fig 1) in 32 countries. Portugal has 4 Hyperbaric Medical Centers (HMC) Two in the Continent, one in Madeira and the other in the Azores Islands (Alvim, 2010). However, their use raises some questions. By one hand, in its current use, should be considered the numerous occupational risk factors, on the other hand, there is not a legislative framework that requires a medical examination plan with appropriate diagnosis for professionals that have as activity the work in a hyperbaric chamber. (Kot, 2003; Kot et al., 2004; Alvim, et al. 2011,b). The preventive measures taken to occupational level, by HMC at international level, are following, in general, the guidelines given in 6th Consensus Conference 2003 for the prevention of disbaric diseases: a) rotation between the Attendants within the hyperbaric chamber; b) terminal oxygen (O2) breathing (Risberg et al., 2004).
