Hyperbaric oxygen

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) is a type of medical treatment that involves the use of pure oxygen in a pressurized environment. This therapy is used to treat a variety of medical conditions and can help to promote healing and reduce inflammation.

Overview

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy works by increasing the amount of oxygen that your blood can carry. This can help to promote healing and reduce inflammation. The therapy is typically performed in a special chamber, where the air pressure is increased to three times higher than normal air pressure. This allows your lungs to gather more oxygen than they would at normal air pressure.

Uses

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is used to treat a variety of medical conditions, including:

• Decompression sickness, a hazard of scuba diving
• Carbon monoxide poisoning
• Gas embolism, or air bubbles in the blood vessels
• Burns
• Crush injuries and other traumatic ischemias
• Severe anemia
• Intracranial abscess
• Necrotizing soft tissue infections
• Osteomyelitis, a bone infection
• Delayed radiation injury
• Compromised skin grafts and flaps
• Thermal burns

Procedure

During a hyperbaric oxygen therapy session, you will typically sit or lie in a large, clear plastic tube. The air pressure in the tube will be gradually increased, and you may feel a popping sensation in your ears. You will then breathe in pure oxygen for a set period of time.

Risks

While hyperbaric oxygen therapy is generally safe, it can carry some risks, including:

• Middle ear injuries
• Lung collapse caused by air pressure changes
• Seizures due to too much oxygen
• Vision changes

See Also

• Oxygen therapy
• Decompression sickness
• Carbon monoxide poisoning

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