Prospects of Xenon Application in Functional Recovery and Rehabilitation of Patients Working in Extreme Occupational Environments

Abstract

Relevance. Professionals working in extreme environments (army officers, police officers, pilots, divers, firefighters, rescue workers, etc.) are susceptible to overstraining their functional reserves, causing occupational overexposure or even death. It is therefore pivotal to optimize the functional condition of individuals working in extreme occupational environment.The objective is to analyse the prospects for xenon medical application, including to promote functional optimization and occupational resilience in professionals working in extreme occupational environment.Methods. The authors studied the research papers published in the Russian Science Citation Index [https://elibrary.ru/] and PubMed [https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov] over the last decade.Results and Discussion. Current research analysis has revealed numerous investigations regarding xenon application in addiction medicine, treatment of post-traumatic stress disorders, and improvement of physiological reserve and occupational resilience, as well as in anesthesiology. Regrettably, our review of Russian and international publications has failed to answer the pivotal issue regarding pharmacological mechanisms behind xenon action. A few research papers hypothesized without evidence that ionotropic glutamate receptors (NMDA-receptors) might be involved in antinociceptive effects.Conclusion. Xenon is a promise and can be appropriately applied in the treatment and rehabilitation of individuals working in extreme occupational environments.