LEVEL OF EVIDENCE (page 6): Most of the studies on OMST were conducted by von Ardenne's own group between 1980 and 1992, with small samples and, in general, without a control group or randomization. Independent evaluations reached different conclusions: a study of 14 patients with chronic lung disease found no lasting improvement in PaO2 [23], and a review by the medical service of German health insurance considered alternative oxygen methods, including OMST, unproven for the proposed indications [24]. In 2001, the German body responsible for public health insurance coverage analyzed the available studies and concluded that the benefit, necessity and cost-effectiveness of OMST had not been proven, keeping it outside the coverage of the German public system [10]. To date, there are no modern randomized clinical trials using the OMST protocol.
SAFETY (page 7): Pulmonary oxygen toxicity requires prolonged exposure to partial pressures above 0.5 atmosphere; 100% oxygen at sea level is tolerated for about 24 to 48 hours without serious damage, and oxygen-induced seizures are a problem practically restricted to the hyperbaric setting and diving [27]. Short sessions at normal pressure remain far below these limits.
An oxygen-enriched environment facilitates combustion. Smoking, including electronic cigarettes, is the leading cause of burns during home oxygen therapy; cylinders can explode in a fire, concentrators cannot [28].
The substances of the first step have their own contraindications, and dipyridamole is a prescription drug. Exercise should be appropriate to each person's cardiovascular condition.
CAUTION: BLEOMYCIN AND OTHER MEDICATIONS (page 35): Supplemental oxygen may precipitate or worsen bleomycin pulmonary toxicity [14-17]. In experimental studies, hyperoxia after bleomycin caused acute lung injury [16], and the authors of another study recommend not exposing bleomycin-treated patients to oxygen above about 25%, except when essential for life [17]. For bleomycin lung injury, the BTS recommends offering oxygen only if saturation falls below 85%, with a target of 85-88% [9]. An interaction of oxygen with amiodarone has also been reported [18]. Patients who are taking or have taken bleomycin, or who are taking amiodarone, should only undergo OMST after evaluation by their oncologist or attending physician.
PROTOCOL 1, HYPOTENSION (page 41): This protocol should only be used by people with a healthy heart. Do not use this procedure if you have heart disease.
PROTOCOL 6, QUICK PROCEDURE (page 51): The protocol is limited to individuals with a healthy heart who are able to exercise
Sources and method
- Book: Oxygen Multistep Therapy: Physiological and Technical Foundations, Manfred von Ardenne (Georg Thieme Verlag, 1990).
- Protocols: Health Solutions (dshedu.com), Mark Squibb, 2005-2009.
- Translated texts: Robert Rowen, MD; biography "Prof. Dr. h.c. mult. Manfred von Ardenne"; Center for Acupuncture and Integrative Medicine (Gene Wei, DOM, AP).
- About the protocols (page 38): "These protocols are based on the book Oxygen Multistep Therapy and have been updated. Pharmaceutical recommendations have been replaced with functionally similar herbs, where possible."
- About the materials (page 32): "This chapter brings together the materials and equipment mentioned throughout this manual and adds technical specifications and the calculation of oxygen consumption, based on guidelines, standards and scientific publications."
- Each of the 9 protocols ends with a technical note that records the discrepancies in the original text (between the summary and the procedure, different doses, incomplete sentences), without correcting them.
- The e-book contains 68 numbered references, in the chapters "What Is Oxygen Multistep Therapy (OMST)", "What Does Oxygen Multistep Therapy Involve?" and "Materials and equipment".