What is Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy?

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBO) is a medical treatment by which oxygen is administered at greater than normal pressure to a patient in order to treat specific medical indications. Long established as the primary therapy in the treatment of medical disorders such as carbon monoxide poisoning and gas gangrene, hyperbaric oxygen therapy is now increasingly being used on an adjunctive basis in the management of a variety of disorders refractory to standard medical and surgical care.

HBO has been shown to be particularly effective in treating problem wounds, chronic bone infections and radiation injury. In HBO therapy, the patient is placed in a specially designed chamber, the pressure in the chamber is increased, and 100% oxygen is breathed. Alveolar oxygen pressure is increased, causing a rise in plasma oxygen content which results in enhanced tissue oxygen delivery. The amount of pressure increase and the length of time under pressure are determined by the condition being treated. Treatment pressures are usually between 2 and 3 times atmospheric. Treatments usually last from 1 to 2 hours at full pressure.

Indications for HBO:

Accepted indications for hyperbaric oxygen therapy encompass a wide range of clinical conditions including:

* Air or Gas Embolism

* Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

* Crush Injury, Compartment Syndrome, and other Acute traumatic Ischemias

* Cyanide Poisoning

* Decompression Sickness

* Enhancement of Healing in Selected Problem Wounds

* Selected Refractory Anaerobic Infections

* Exceptional Blood Loss Anemia

* Gas Gangrene

* Necrotizing Soft Tissue Infections

* Osteomyelitis (Refractory)

* Radiation Necrosis: Osteoradionecrosis and Soft Tissue Radiation Necrosis

* Compromised Skin Grafts or Flaps

* Thermal Burns HBO is generally used as an adjunctive therapy.

 

HBO does not compete with or replace other treatment methods.