Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) is a means of providing additional oxygen to the tissues of your body. This increased oxygen delivery furthers your body's ability to kill germs and to increase healing. HBOT is a supplemental therapy to be used in addition to the current medical and surgical therapy you are receiving.
HBOT typically is used to complement treatments of medical problems such as bone infections, complication of radiotherapy, and certain chronic, non-healing wounds. On an emergency basis, the chamber also is used to treat problems such as carbon monoxide poisoning and the decompression sickness.
The following information is provided regarding HBOT:
What are the currently accepted indications for hyperbaric oxygen therapy?
The Undersea & Hyperbaric Medical Society through its Committee on Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy continually reviews and evaluates current and potential indications for hyperbaric oxygen therapy. Recommendations are made in its "Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Committee Report."
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is currently indicated as the primary mode of therapy for:
- Air or Gas Embolism
- Decompression Sickness
- Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is currently indicated as an important adjunctive therapy for:
- Radiation Tissue Damage (Soft Tissue and Osteoradionecrosis)
- Clostridial Myonecrosis (Gas Gangrene)
- Compromised Skin Grafts and Flaps
- Crush Injury, Compartment Syndrome, Acute Traumatic Ischemias
- Necrotizing Soft Tissue (Subcutaneous, Muscle, Fascia) Infections
- Osteomyelitis (Refractory)
- Problem Non-healing Wounds
The Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Process
Hyperbaric Oxygen therapy is administered in an air-filled multiplace (multiple patient) chamber in which patients breathe 100 percent oxygen at greater than one atmosphere of pressure using a mask or hood. This increases the level of oxygen delivered to the tissues and augments wound healing and repair. The multiplace chamber, located at the Institue for Exercise and Environmental Medicine at Presbyterian Hospital of Dallas, allows complex medical care to be provided in the hyperbaric environment, and enables more patients to be treated at one time, improving efficiency.
Description of the Chamber
Pictured is the interior of the hyperbaric Chamber.
The Institute for Exercise and Environmental Medicine's environmental chamber is a hyper/hypobaric triplelock chamber capable of being pressurized to 165 feet below sea level or "flown" to 100,000 feet above sea level.
The chamber accomodates up to 16 patients at one time, eight in the treatment lock and eight in the research lock. Chamber operations are monitored by advanced computer systems, and medical monitoring systems are in place with equipment for managing medical emergencies inside the chamber.
The clinical or treatment lock is equipped with a patient entertainment system, which includes a large-screen TV and an AM/FM/compact-disc/cassette stereo. Patients are provided with individual headsets so that they may choose their mode of entertainment. There is also a telephone inside the chamber for making or receiving calls. Patient comfort is controlled by a heat exchanger, which can either cool or heat the interior of the lock.
The research lock is set up for environmental and altitude research, such as studying the effects of high altitude and low temperature on mountain climbers or skiers. It can be outfitted with various monitoring devices and exercise equipment. A specially designed environmental control system external to the chamber adjusts and maintains the equipment at temperature settings between 0 and 120 degrees Fahrenheit.
The entry lock is common to both the treatment and research locks, and is equipped with a toilet, sink and shower for long-term projects. The chamber complex is 9 feet in diameter and 40 feet long ( a typical clinical chamber is about 7 feet by 18 feet), and weighs 68,000 pounds.
Other Internet Resources for Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy
The following is a list of other Internet resources relating to hyperbarics