Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (“HBO Therapy”) provides a patient 100% oxygen at pressures greater than normal atmospheric (sea level) pressure. This allows more oxygen to pass throughout a patient’s body to promote healing, fight infection and kill bacteria. Additionally, this can raise the oxygen level in a patient's bloodstream over 20x the normal level. Hyperbaric therapy is generally tolerated quite well, many patients enjoy it.
HBO Therapy can assist patients who have carbon monoxide poisoning, challenges associated with wound healing, necrotizing soft tissue conditions, or skin grafts/flaps. Patients may need more than one HBO Therapy treatment to help their recovery. HBO Therapy does not require a hospital stay, except for patients who are already in the hospital and will be returned to their hospital room. Patients using HBO Therapy will go through three phases of care:
Compression
The chamber is pressurized to increase the oxygen content. Technicians will help patient remain comfortable during this phase. Similar to "cleaning your ears" on an airplane.
Treatment
HBO Therapy feels warm during the compression phase due to pressurization. Once the prescribed pressure is reached, the temperature in the chamber cools. During this time the patient may choose to watch TV, listen to music, or sleep. The treatment lasts approximately 90-120 minutes.
Decompression
The decompression phase begins at the end of treatment. The pressure is slowly reduced in the chamber and the patient is observed for any signs of any trouble relating to expanding gasses.