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To the Editor:
We recently encountered a special case of claustrophobia during routine hyperbaric oxygen (HBO2) treatment. A male patient was admitted into hospital due to traumatic foot injury. After debridement, he was referred for HBO^sub 2^ treatment. Examinations before HBO2 treatment showed normal vital signs. Compression was begun at a rate of 4 meters /minute.
About one minute after compression commenced, this patient developed mild dysphoria and shortness of breath. Compression was stopped, but convulsion of the limbs and foam-like sputum from the mouth were found. The patient's blood pressure was normal, but tachycardia and systemic sweating were obvious. Other abnormalities were not found.
For safety, decompression was done slowly, treatment discontinued and this patient moved out of the chamber. He was allowed to lie in bed in a supine position and recovered completely in the absence of treatment about half an hour later. On inquiry, and he had no history of psychiatric treatment and no episodes of depression, anxiety disorders, epilepsy, claustrophobia, or other psychiatric disorders. He was...