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.
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 your 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.
However, it may be necessary to undergo as many as 30-40 treatments for maximum benefit. Your planned treatment course will be discussed with you in detail prior to starting therapy. It is recommended that you not fly or dive within 24 hours after treatment.
What does hyperbaric oxygen feel like?
The hyperbaric oxygen chamber is a large cylinder with a comfortable mattress. It has a clear acrylic ceiling; you can relax, sleep, watch TV, or talk with your hyperbaric therapist during treatment. Comfortable, cotton clothing is provided during therapy.
You will hear a hissing noise as the treatment begins and the chamber fills up with oxygen. As pressure increases, your ears may pop like they do in an airplane. Once the correct pressure is reached, you remain in the chamber until the end of the prescribed time. At this time, your therapist will gradually decrease the chamber pressure and you may again feel cracking or popping in your ears. This is natural and will clear up on its own.
Are there any side effects?
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.
Before getting started...
Certain precautions should be taken before your treatment program begins. For your safety, we ask that you let our staff know of any medications you are taking including insulin, prednisone, aspirin or pain medications. In addition, please follow these instructions:
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Because smoking constricts the blood vessels and interferes with the delivery of oxygen to your body tissue, do not smoke for at least two hours before or after a treatment. If possible, it is best not to smoke during your entire program of hyperbaric oxygen therapy.
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Do not drink alcohol or carbonated drinks for at least two hours before treatment.
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Eat a regular meal before your treatment, especially if you are diabetic.
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Do not use hairspray, perfume, deodorant, make-up, or any petroleum-based products.
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Do not wear contact lenses, hairpieces, dentures, jewelry, hearing aides or fingernail polish.
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If you experience cold or flu symptoms, including fever, cough, sore throat, nausea, vomiting, headache, diarrhea, or body aches, please notify a hyperbaric staff member as soon as possible. These symptoms may require a temporary delay in your treatment schedule. When your symptoms clear up, treatments may be resumed.
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
Para información sobre los servicios hiperbaricos en un centro particular, siga los enlaces debajo.