What is Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy?
Hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) therapy is the breathing of 100% oxygen while inside a treatment chamber. The purpose of the therapy is to provide increased amounts of oxygen to the body.
What is a hyperbaric chamber?
The chamber is made of acrylic and aluminum that is able to withstand an increase in internal pressure.
How does it work?
The air we breathe is 21% oxygen, 78% nitrogen and minor amounts of other gases. Our bodies are usually able to heal themselves with a normal oxygen level, but in certain conditions extra oxygen is required. During HBO therapy, the pressure is increased with 100% oxygen. The breathing of pure oxygen under pressure causes a much larger than normal amount of oxygen to be dissolved in the blood and subsequently, the rest of the body. The extra oxygen is used by the body in many ways. Depending on the underlying problem, the oxygen can improve wound healing by reducing swelling, keeping infection under control and stimulating new blood vessel growth.
What conditions can we treat with HBO?
- Problem wounds that will not heal with conventional therapy
- Skin grafts and flaps that are infected or have not healed
- Bones that once received radiation
- Tissue that once received radiation
- Bone that has been infected from bacteria
About the treatment
The number of treatments you will require varies between patients, depending on your particular problem. We offer HBO treatments 5 days a week, Monday – Friday, with usually one treatment per patient per day. The duration of each treatment is 2 hours.
Are there any side effects?
Side effects are uncommon. They relate to the increase in pressure (ear or lung barotrauma) or the use of increased amounts of oxygen (CNS or lung oxygen toxicity). Some patients may also experience visual changes that cause them to become more near-sighted (myopia); this is usually temporary and should disappear within 1-2 months of ceasing therapy.
How will it feel?
The first few minutes in the chamber will be noisy, due to the pressurized gas entering the chamber. It will seem warm at first and then the temperature will be adjusted to a comfortable level. You will feel the change in pressure in your ears, similar to that when descending in an airplane. Once the chamber has had a chance to equalize you will not have any discomfort. During treatment, you will be able to watch DVD’s or VHS videos and enjoy listening to CDs. You can also choose to just close your eyes and relax. At the end of the treatment, the chamber pressure is reduced and the air will feel colder. You will feel your ears “popping” during this phase.
For more information, call 304.264.1314