Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy for Necrotizing Tissue Infections

A necrotizing tissue infection is a fast-moving and life-threatening illness that requires expert medical treatment. Even with care, the stakes remain high, with the CDC reporting that up to one in five necrotizing fasciitis cases is fatal. The best treatment protocols include aggressive treatment that includes surgery, powerful antibiotics, ICU-level medical care, and supportive hyperbaric oxygen therapy sessions that help boost the body’s recovery. 

Read on to learn how hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) can support your recovery during high-risk infections like necrotizing tissue infections, and where to find the best hyperbaric oxygen therapy clinic in Marietta. 

What is a Necrotizing Tissue Infection?

A necrotizing tissue infection, also called a necrotizing soft tissue infection or NSTI, is a rare but dangerous bacterial infection that destroys skin and the tissues underneath it with shocking speed. The first symptom is often a pain that feels deep, sharp, and intense, like the area is on fire or being crushed. The skin itself usually looks red or irritated. 

For those at risk of tissue infections, clinicians watch for a patch of skin that has a spreading redness. A fever and feeling seriously unwell, like chills, weakness, dizziness, or a racing heart are also common symptoms. As the infection worsens, the skin can turn purple, or gray, and blisters can develop. If medical treatment is delayed, more tissue can die, complications rise, and the need for surgery becomes larger and more urgent. 

How can Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Help Necrotizing Tissue Infections?

Although hyperbaric oxygen therapy can’t heal tissue infections on its own, HBOT supports recovery from a necrotizing tissue infection by giving healthy tissues more oxygen, which can reduce swelling and accelerate healing by flooding the cells with oxygen. HBOT is an especially good treatment option if your tissue infection includes types of bacteria that thrive in low-oxygen environments, as high-pressure oxygen inhibits bacterial growth and supports immune response. When combined with necessary treatments, including surgical debridement of the infected area, antibiotics, wound care, and medical monitoring, HBOT can improve your chances of recovery. 

Can Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Help You Avoid Surgery for Necrotizing Tissue Infections?

When a necrotizing tissue infection is suspected, the lifesaving core treatment is surgical debridement to remove dying tissue and critical care support while the infection is brought under control. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is a great complementary treatment for stable patients to reduce tissue necrosis and increase the effectiveness of the antibiotics.

Can Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Help Reduce Your Risk of Amputation? 

Research shows that patients who received hyperbaric oxygen therapy have lower death rates compared with those who did not receive HBOT treatments. This lower mortality rate is associated with less ongoing tissue damage, fewer repeat debridements, and a healthier wound bed that can make reconstruction and closure more possible once the infection is controlled. While this may not mean all cases will avoid amputation, it does improve the chances of limb survival in some cases. 

What to Expect During a Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Session for a Necrotizing Tissue Infection

An HBOT session for a severe tissue infection is usually conducted under medical supervision. Before treatment, a pre-screening evaluation is necessary to ensure your health is in a stable condition. 

Once inside the hyperbaric chamber, the oxygen level and atmospheric air pressure rise slowly, to around 1.9 to 3 times higher than normal. Most people feel like their ears plug up or pop like they are changing altitude on a flight. 

For several minutes up to about two hours, you’ll relax and breathe 99.7% medical-grade oxygen. During that time, the goal is to push more oxygen into the blood so it can reach the struggling tissues. The total number of sessions is usually based on how well you’re tolerating treatment and healing progress.

Finding the Best Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Clinic in Marietta for Healing Support 

At our cutting-edge hyperbaric oxygen centers in Marietta, Sandy Springs, and Cumming, Regenerative and Hyperbaric Medicine pairs accredited hyperbaric care with a physician-led team to provide safe and effective treatment for those healing from necrotising tissue infections. 

With a flawless safety record and a prestigious UHMS accreditation, our experts provide the safest and most effective hyperbaric treatments in the nation to support wound healing, infection recovery, or complex medical conditions, including necrotizing tissue infections. 

Ready to support healing and reduce your chances of long-term complications with the best hyperbaric oxygen therapy clinic in Marietta?