Welcome to the Hyperbaric Medicine Unit at South Miami Hospital. This information has been designed to provide details about hyperbaric treatments and the chamber, and to answer the most commonly asked questions. For more information, please call 786-662-5149.
- What is hyperbaric oxygen therapy?
- Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is a medical treatment for many illnesses. It can be used as the primary treatment for a disorder, but more often, it is part of a combined program that includes antibiotics and surgery. A pressurized chamber is necessary to provide hyperbaric oxygen therapy. The patient is placed within the chamber, then the chamber's compression is adjusted to the level of pure oxygen ordered by a hyperbaric physician.
Hyperbaric oxygen is a simple concept. The air we breathe contains 21 percent oxygen. By providing 100 percent pure oxygen in a pressurized see-through chamber, we are able to deliver 10 to 15 times more oxygen to the patient. This "hyperbaric" or high-pressure dose of oxygen offers many therapeutic benefits.
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How does hyperbaric oxygen work?
- Oxygen provided in a hyperbaric chamber greatly increases the amount of oxygen delivered to body tissues by the blood. All of the benefits provided by hyperbaric oxygen therapy are the result of extra oxygen being carried within the bloodstream. Wounds do not benefit directly from treatment in the chamber. They benefit from the increased oxygen that the patient breathes in during treatment.
This is the reason that wound dressings are usually left in place.
Depending on the reason for treatment, hyperbaric therapy provides one or more of the following benefits:
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Increased oxygen to the injured tissue
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Better formation of blood vessels
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Advanced wound healing
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Improved infection control
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Preservation of damaged tissue
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Elimination of toxic substances
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Reduced effects of toxic substances
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Reduction or elimination of tissue obstruction caused by gas bubbles.
A single treatment normally lasts 2 hours. The benefits may occur with only one or two treatments.
A planned treatment course will be discussed with patients in detail prior to starting therapy.
What does hyperbaric oxygen feel like?
The hyperbaric oxygen chamber is a large cylinder with a comfortable mattress and a clear acrylic ceiling. Patients can relax, sleep, watch TV or talk with the hyperbaric therapist during treatment. Comfortable, cotton clothing is provided during therapy.
Patients hear a hissing noise as the treatment begins and the chamber fills up with oxygen. As pressure increases, people's ears may pop like they do in an airplane. Once the correct pressure is reached, patietns remain in the chamber until the end of the prescribed time. At this time, the therapist will gradually decrease the chamber pressure and patients may again feel cracking or popping in their ears. This is natural and will clear up on its own.
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Are there any side effects?
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Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is very safe and has no long-term side effects. It is important to remember that all of the following side effects can be treated and are completely reversible.
Visual changes: Some patients develop temporary changes in eyesight, such as blurry vision or nearsightedness, which returns to the pretreatment state within eight weeks following the end of hyperbaric therapy.
Fatigue: Occasionally, patients experience fatigue during the course of treatment. This is normal and not a cause for concern.
Claustrophobia: Some patients feel anxiety when confined within closed spaces. If this happens, notify the staff and relaxation methods or medication will be arranged.
Barotrauma: This is damage caused to areas of the body by changes in pressure. Middle-ear barotrauma is the most common side effect. This is when the patient has popping or pain in the ears, and has difficulty clearing the ears. Barotrauma in the sinuses and teeth is also possible. If you note any discomfort in these areas, please notify the staff immediately.
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Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy has been approved to treat the following:
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Arterial gas embolism
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Carbon monoxide poisoning and smoke inhalation
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Clostridia Myonecrosis (gas gangrene)
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Compartment Syndrome, Crushing Syndrome and other traumatic ischemias
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Decompression sickness
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Enhancement of healing in selected problem wounds
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Exceptional blood loss and anemia
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Progressive necrotizing infections
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Chronic Refractory Osteomyelitis
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Radiation tissue damage
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Problem skin grafts and flaps
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Adjunctive hyperbaric oxygen in intracranial abscess
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Thermal burns
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Actinomycosis
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Acute peripheral arterial insufficiency
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Advanced diabetic ulcer
For more information on the Hyperbaric Medicine Unit at South Miami Hospital, please call 786-662-5149.