Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (also abbreviated as HBOT) involves breathing pure oxygen into a pressurized chamber. Its original usage was to treat decompression sickness in underwater divers, but over time, its applications have grown.

Nowadays, HBOT is a widely accepted treatment for a variety of various medical and surgical disorders, including, among others, several types of infections, non-healing wounds, and radiation therapy-related injuries.

In order to repair tissues and restore normal function, HBOT aims to temporarily

increase the amount of oxygen carried in the blood. This due to the fact that, in order to function properly, the body’s tissues need a steady flow of oxygen; therefore, that supply could be impacted if tissues suffer harm from an accident or a disease.

What happens inside a Hyperbaric Chamber?

 During an HBOT session, you are subjected to an increase in air pressure in the hyperbaric chamber that ranges between 1.5 and 3 times normal (ATA).

The lungs take up more oxygen at these conditions than if pure oxygen were breathed at normal air pressure. The blood becomes highly oxygenated as it circulates around the

body, restoring normal oxygen levels, promoting healing, reducing inflammation, and improving blood flow to damaged areas.

Furthermore, according to research, HBOT can also aid in the formation of new blood vessels in many places of the body.

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy can be performed as an outpatient procedure and does not require hospitalization. However, if you are already hospitalized and need hyperbaric oxygen therapy, then you will remain in the hospital to receive the therapy.

How long can a Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy last?

 A hyperbaric oxygen therapy session usually lasts for approximately 2 hours, both to maximize the benefit to your health and because your doctor will want to gradually increase the pressure as the session begins and gradually decrease it as the treatment concludes.

In most cases, hyperbaric oxygen therapy requires numerous sessions. It is frequently utilized in conjunction with a comprehensive treatment plan to address your medical condition. This will be decided in cooperation with your doctors and in accordance with your medical necessity.

What should you be wary about once inside the Hyperbaric Chamber?

 Because the air pressure in the chamber is two to three times that of normal air

pressure, you may feel pressure in your ears during the therapy, similar to what you might feel on an airplane where your ears may feel congested (barotrauma) or begin to pop. However, you can usually alleviate this sensation by yawning or swallowing.

More uses for HBOT:

 Hyperbaric oxygen therapy has been approved for use in more than a dozen medical conditions, including:

• Acute anemias
• Intracranial abscess
• Air bubbles in the blood vessels (arterial gas embolism)
• Burns
• Decompression sickness
• Carbon monoxide poisoning
• Compartment syndrome
• Crush injury
• Sudden idiopathic deafness
• Gas gangrene
• Skin or bone infection that can lead to tissue death
• Necrotizing soft tissue infection (also called raw meat eating disease)
• Wounds (diabetic and non-diabetic) that do not heal properly
• Radiation injury
• Compromised skin graft or flap without risk of tissue death

At Casa Pance Medical Treatments, we use a single-person rigid hyperbaric oxygen

therapy unit. This allows you to lie down and rest as your treatment progresses under the supervision of specialized personnel.

For more information, contact us and request a consultation with a doctor who is an expert in this treatment.