Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy

During hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT), you breathe pure oxygen inside a highly pressured environment. Often, pressure in the chamber is between 1.5 and 3 times greater than normal air pressure.

Side effects and possible complications of HBOT

During HBOT, you lie on a table in an enclosed chamber and breathe oxygen while the pressure inside the chamber is slowly increased. The therapy may last as little as 3 minutes or as long as 2 hours before the pressure is returned to normal levels. Because the pressure is so high, some people may have discomfort while in the chamber. You may have ear pain or a popping feeling in your ears.

To prevent oxygen poisoning, you may need to take short breaks during the therapy and breathe normal air. This can prevent tissues in the body from taking in too much oxygen.

The oxygen dose given during the treatment should be determined specifically for each person. Your healthcare provider will consider any health problems you have, as well as your overall health and your age. This helps to reduce the risk for side effects and complications.

Possible symptoms or side effects after HBOT can include fatigue and lightheadedness.

HBOT cautions

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is not safe for everyone. In general, you shouldn't receive HBOT if you:

·Have certain types of lung diseases, because of an increased risk for a collapsed lung

·Have a collapsed lung

·Have a cold or a fever

·Have had recent ear surgery or injury

·Do not like small enclosed spaces (claustrophobia)

Precautions to take

The best way to avoid side effects and complications of HBOT is to be treated by certified and trained medical staff.

Uses of hyperbaric oxygen therapy

Another way to prevent complications is to use HBOT only as intended. HBOT is used to treat many different health conditions including:

·Carbon monoxide poisoning

·Cyanide poisoning

·Injury from crushing

·Gas gangrene, a form of gangrene in which gas collects in tissues

·Decompression sickness

·Sudden or traumatic inadequate blood flow in the arteries

·Select wound healing

·Skin grafts and flaps

·Infection in a bone called osteomyelitis

·Delayed radiation injury

·Flesh-eating disease called necrotizing bacterial soft tissue infections

·Air or gas bubble trapped in a blood vessel. This is known as an air or gas embolism.

·Long-term (chronic) infection called actinomycosis

·Diabetic wounds that are not healing properly