Hyperbaric Medicine
The Wound Healing Centers offer hyperbaric oxygen as an advanced treatment to help
enhance the body’s wound healing abilities. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is a
prescribed medical treatment in which you breathe 100% pure oxygen inside a
pressurized chamber instead of 21% oxygen in normal air. This therapy assists the
natural healing by increasing the oxygen concentration in the bloodstream. The increased
oxygen a patient gets with this treatment improves circulation, treats
infection and fosters new tissue growth. Our trained staff administers the
therapy, and each patient is evaluated by a physician each week to determine
the progress of healing. Ultimately, a therapy treatment plan will include
daily treatment for approximately four to six weeks depending on the diagnosis.
When a patient receives hyperbaric oxygen therapy, they are lying in a clear chamber
and have the opportunity to watch television, a movie, listen to music, or
sleep. Since the chamber is pressurized
during treatment, patients may feel like they are in an airplane cabin when
flying or under water when scuba diving-- fullness in ears and warmth. A nurse
will be at the patient’s side and talk with them via intercom to help with the
process. Most patients find the treatment relaxing and comfortable.
Generally, patients
experience few side effects. The most common side effects are related to the
direct effects of the pressure changing: ear pain, fatigue and temporary vision
change. If there are any concerns, patients can talk with the nurse and
physician during the treatment or visit.
The Undersea and
Hyperbaric Medical Society’s Oxygen Therapy Committee has recommended
hyperbaric oxygen treatment as beneficial in several clinical conditions and we
are able to treat the following:
- Crush injury, compartment syndrome, and other acute
traumatic ischemic injuries
- Compromised skin grafts or flaps
- Thermal burns
- Other problem wounds complicated by hypoxia and
specifically diabetic foot ulcers
- Necrotizing soft tissue infections
- Refractory osteomyelitis
- Osteoradionecrosis
- Soft tissue radionecrosis
