site.btaMilitary Medical Academy-Varna Acquires New Hyperbaric Chamber for Patients and Divers

The Naval Hospital, which is part of the Military Medical Academy (MMA), now has a state-of-the-art hyperbaric chamber, said the MMA press centre.

The new facility replaced its previous chamber, which had been in operation for more than three decades since 1992, when the Department of Hyperbaric and Marine Medicine was established.

"We are a leading centre for hyperbaric medicine. Our activities include conducting training (simulated diving descents) with divers from the navy; treating injured divers; expertise and treatment of patients with hyperbaric oxygenation," explained Dr. Milena Yaneva, head of the Department of Hyperbaric and Marine Medicine, quoted in the press release.

The new hyperbaric chamber allows for the treatment of more patients. The previous one had only two oxygen masks in each compartment,  while the current multi-place hyperbaric chamber is of of the highest class, with two compartments, each with six oxygen masks, said Yaneva.

“We are talking about an extremely comfortable facility for patients, with a spacious interior lit by large windows. Each compartment has one couch for bedridden patients and four folding chairs; a smart TV for watching television during procedures; an audio system with speakers for playing music; and a high-end communication device that provides two-way audio connection between patients and the doctor,” added Yaneva.

The new hyperbaric chamber also includes a gas analyzer, an air conditioning system that ensures temperature comfort for patients, video surveillance, and monitoring of the hyperbaric chamber's indicators during operation. Its implementation is the next step in the Military Medical Academy's long-term strategy to renew resources and increase the operational readiness of medical facilities in the system. The modernization is aimed at building a sustainable, high-tech, and efficient healthcare infrastructure in response to the needs of both the army and the civilian population, explained the medical facility.

The Military Medical Academy in Varna now has seven fully renovated operating rooms that meet the latest requirements for safety, efficiency, and precision. They are modeled after more than 30 similar rooms in the central hospital of the Military Medical Academy in Sofia, the press centre of the Military Medical Academy said in early August.