Evaluation of the effects of hyperbaric on human attention functions based on eye movements recorded using an infrared camera.

Abstract

This study aimed to assess the influence of elevated atmospheric pressure on the functions of attention of medical personnel working in hyperbaric chambers. We enrolled 15 participants who met the inclusion criteria. The test consisted of performing the same medical procedure under 2 conditions. For each of these test conditions, right eye movements were recorded using an oculograph. The obtained results revealed a relationship between elevated atmospheric pressure and the ability of medical personnel to focus. To assess the influence of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO2) on visual attention in medical personnel during medical activities performed under normobaric (1 absolute atmosphere (1 ATA)) and hyperbaric (4 ATA) conditions inside a hyperbaric chamber. Each participant had a valid license to act as a medical attendant during therapeutic hyperbaric sessions. Fifteen individuals, 10 men and 5 women aged between 28 and 65 years, participated in the study. The participants were asked to perform a medical procedure involving the preparation of a syringe with a drug administered by an infusion pump under 2 test conditions: 1 ATA corresponding to the atmospheric pressure on land, and 4 ATA corresponding to an underwater depth of 30 m. The order of test conditions was random. Both test conditions were performed inside a hyperbaric chamber. The number of fixations in the area of interest (AOI) varied between stages (1, 2 and 3) and task conditions (1 ATA and 4 ATA), with lower values for the 4 ATA condition. Under 1 ATA, 30% of eye fixations were in the AOI, as compared to only 6% under 4 ATA. The obtained results indicate that elevated atmospheric pressure has negative effects on the attention of medical personnel.