In April 1974, the USAF Hyperbaric Center was established at Brooks AFB, Texas under the direction of Col Jefferson C. Davis, MD, with the purpose to determine if there was a role for hyperbaric oxygen (HBO2) in the treatment of war related injuries (1, 2). Lt Col Richard D. Heimbach, MD, was the Chief of Medical Operations, and Maj Paul J. Sheffield, PhD, was the Chief of Diving Operations.

Selecting the HBO2 treatment pressure and duration for wound healing enhancement required considerable thought of benefit (healing) versus risk (oxygen toxicity/decompression sickness). There were several HBO2 physiological studies in Europe and North America that suggested a treatment pressure of at least 2 ATA. At that time, Dr. George Hart was treating wounds in his monoplace chamber for 90 min at 2 ATA. In his multiplace chamber, Dr Eric Kindwall was using the “End Special Table” that had been introduced to him by Dr Edgar End in 1969. It consisted of O2 administration for 15 min during pressurization to 3 ATA, 30 min at 3 ATA, and 15 min ascent to surface for a total HBO2 exposure of 60 min.(Kindwall EP, personal communication, May 23, 2002).