Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) is a non-invasive medical treatment administered by delivering 100% oxygen at pressures greater than two to three times the normal atmospheric (sea level) pressure to a patient in a chamber. Hyperbaric oxygen acts as a drug, eliciting varying levels of response at different dosages. HBOT promotes healing by increasing the oxygen concentration in the body at the cellular level. HBOT is FDA approved and has been proven effective as an adjunctive therapy for specific indications. HBOT has clearly been demonstrated to drastically enhance the body's ability to heal.
Patients lie comfortably inside the large acrylic monoplace chambers, or relax seated inside the multiplace chamber, for the treatment and breathe 100% oxygen. Patients can watch individually selected programming on television from our selections of over 600 movies, or listen to tapes, CDs or a radio. Individual chambers allow for customized treatment for various conditions. Inside the multiplace chamber, patients are also accompanied by a "tender" (medical staff person) at all times during treatment.
Benefits of HBOT
There are many benefits associated with intermittent exposure to doses of hyperbaric oxygen. These include bactericidal and bacteriostatic effects, anti-inflammatory factors, acceleration of revascularization, and reduction of reperfusion injuries. When these factors are combined with integrated wound care management, there is an overall acceleration in healing. HBOT allows the following:
- An increase in the distance which oxygen diffuses from functional capillaries into hypoperfused wounds. This results in angiogenesis, which enables healing in bone grafts, skin grafts, selected problem wounds, compromised grafts and radiation induced injury.
- Inhibits microbial growth, deactivates bacterial toxins and enhances white blood cell functions in necrotizing infections in both osteomyelitis and soft tissue infections that have not responded to conventional therapies.
- Vasoconstriction and a subsequent decrease in tissue edema resulting from crush injury and compartment syndrome. At the same time, the high oxygen content in the hemoglobin overcomes the effects of hypoxia and peripheral ischemia.
Treatment Protocols
Treatment protocols are established by the hyperbaric physician. Oxygen, when breathed under increased atmospheric pressure, converts into a potent medical grade drug. Besides the beneficial effects that have been discussed, hyperbaric oxygen can produce noticeable toxic effects if administered indiscriminately. Safe, time/dose limits have been established for hyperbaric oxygen exposure and these limitations form the basis for today's treatment protocols.
With the exception of decompression sickness and cerebral arterial gas embolism, treatments last approximately two hours. Treatments are given daily, unless otherwise indicated. The total number of treatments ordered depends on the diagnosis and the severity of each individual case. For some acute cases, treatment times are approximately ten days, while more chronic cases may require thirty or more treatments.