Hyperbaric Medicine Services

Heal more quickly with pure oxygen

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) is a medical treatment given in a comfortable, climate-controlled, see-through chamber.

Normally, oxygen is 21% of the air we breathe. In the HBOT chamber, the air is 100% oxygen. The combination of increased pressure and 100% oxygen significantly increases the amount of oxygen in the bloodstream.

HBOT can provide benefits such as:

Increased oxygen delivery to injured tissue
Greater blood vessel formation
Advanced wound healing
Improved infection control
Preservation of damaged tissues
Reduced effects from toxic substances

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Conditions treated by HBOT

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is used to successfully treat tissue damage caused by many chronic, non-healing conditions.

HBOT can be used to treat:

Wounds that are slow to heal or not healing
Diabetic foot or leg ulcers
Surgical wounds that have opened/not healed
Foot or leg ulcers/wounds
Skin grafts or surgical flaps that are not healing
Wounds that are caused by past radiation therapy
Leg ulcers related to vein problems
Leg wounds related to circulation or arterial issues
Bone infection or infected wounds
Non-healing trauma wounds
Pressure wounds
Burns that are slow to heal

Frequently asked questions about hyperbaric oxygen therapy

What does hyperbaric oxygen feel like?

Hyperbaric oxygen treatments normally are painless. You simply lie comfortably in the clear chamber listening to music, watching TV, reading or napping while the clinical team monitors you. You may feel pressure in your ears, similar to flying or driving in the mountains. You will be shown several easy methods to avoid ear discomfort.

Most people do not feel claustrophobic inside the chamber. If necessary, the hyperbaric physician can prescribe medication that will help with relaxation and make the treatment less stressful.

Are there any side effects?

Generally, patients experience no after-effects from HBOT. However, some patients report a “crackling” in their ears between treatments, which you can relieve in the same way you clear your ears during changes in pressure while in the chamber.

Some patients feel lightheaded for a few minutes following a treatment, but this is brief and should be resolved prior to leaving the department. Patients are able to continue with their normal daily activities.

How many treatments will I need?

The number of treatments is individualized to each patient. Some emergent indications will only require one or two treatments, while those with chronic conditions may undergo as many as 20 to 60 treatments. The exact number of treatments will be determined by your response to HBOT.

For outpatients, treatments normally are provided once a day, five days per week and last about two hours each.

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Hyperbaric Medicine Services

Heal more quickly with pure oxygen

Conditions treated by HBOT

Frequently asked questions about hyperbaric oxygen therapy

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