Hyperbaric Medicine
HBO2 Benefits for Conditions and Industries
What conditions can be treated with hyperbaric oxygen therapy?
Hyperbaric oxygen treatment (HBO2) is used to treat a range of medical conditions, particularly those that benefit from increased oxygen delivery to tissues or require enhanced healing and infection control. Some of the most common conditions treated with HBO2 include:
Decompression Sickness (DCS): Also known as “the bends,” this condition affects divers who ascend too quickly, causing nitrogen bubbles to form in the bloodstream. HBO2 helps dissolve these bubbles, alleviating symptoms.
Carbon Monoxide Poisoning: HBO2 speeds up the removal of carbon monoxide from the blood, preventing damage to organs, especially the brain and heart, and reducing the risk of long-term effects.
Chronic Non-Healing Wounds: Often seen in diabetic patients, these wounds heal more slowly due to poor circulation and reduced oxygenation. HBO2 promotes wound healing by increasing blood flow and oxygen to the affected areas, especially in diabetic foot ulcers.
Radiation Injury: Cancer treatments like radiation therapy can damage healthy tissue, particularly in areas like the jaw (osteoradionecrosis) or bladder. HBO2 helps repair these tissues by stimulating new blood vessel formation and reducing inflammation.
Serious Infections: Infections such as necrotizing fasciitis (“flesh-eating disease”) and certain bone infections (osteomyelitis) can benefit from HBO2, as the increased oxygen helps kill bacteria and enhance immune function.
Skin Grafts and Flaps: For patients who have undergone reconstructive surgery with grafts or flaps, HBO2 can improve blood flow to the area, increasing the chances of successful tissue healing and attachment.
Burn Injuries: HBO2 can help reduce swelling, decrease pain, and improve healing in patients with severe burns by providing oxygen to damaged tissues and supporting new skin growth.
Anemia from Severe Blood Loss: In cases where blood transfusions aren’t possible, HBO2 can supply enough oxygen to support tissues and organs temporarily, as oxygen is delivered directly through plasma.
In these and other specialized cases, HBO2 can provide critical support in healing and managing tissue damage by boosting oxygen delivery to cells, which is essential for cellular repair, immune function, and tissue recovery.
HBO2 FOR THE DIVING AND MARITIME INDUSTRY
In the diving and maritime industries, hyperbaric oxygen treatment (HBO2) is a critical treatment tool for managing and preventing conditions caused by underwater pressure changes and prolonged exposure to high-pressure environments.
Services for the Diving and Maritime Industry:
- Treatment for Decompression Sickness (DCS): Decompression sickness, or “the bends,” occurs when divers ascend too quickly, causing nitrogen bubbles to form in tissues and the bloodstream. HBO2 helps dissolve these nitrogen bubbles by increasing atmospheric pressure and oxygen in the body, reducing symptoms like joint pain, dizziness, or even neurological damage. Immediate HBO2 treatment in a hyperbaric chamber is essential to reverse DCS and prevent long-term complications.
- Management of Arterial Gas Embolism (AGE): Arterial gas embolism, a serious condition caused by air bubbles entering the bloodstream, is another potential risk for divers. It can happen when divers hold their breath during ascent or experience lung overexpansion injuries. HBO2 reduces the size of these air bubbles, allowing them to dissolve and preventing blockages in blood vessels, especially in critical areas like the heart and brain.
- Dive Physicals: Dive physicals evaluate a diver’s overall health, including cardiovascular, respiratory, neurological, and musculoskeletal systems, to ensure they can safely handle the stresses of diving. Conditions like high blood pressure, lung abnormalities, or inner ear issues are assessed since they can increase the risk of dive-related complications like decompression sickness and barotrauma.
HBO2 FOR THE AEROSPACE INDUSTRY
In the aerospace industry, hyperbaric oxygen treatment (HBO2) plays an essential role in managing health and safety for personnel exposed to high altitudes and rapid pressure changes.
Services for the Aerospace Industry:
- Treatment for Hypoxia: Hypoxia, or oxygen deprivation, is a risk for pilots and crew at high altitudes where atmospheric oxygen levels are lower. Symptoms include dizziness, fatigue, and impaired cognitive function, which can be life-threatening in flight. HBO2 provides rapid oxygen replenishment, restoring normal levels in the bloodstream and reversing hypoxia-related symptoms to prevent further complications.
- Management of Decompression Sickness (DCS): Decompression sickness, while more common in diving, can also occur in aerospace settings, especially with high-altitude flights and rapid decompression events. HBO2 helps eliminate nitrogen bubbles that may form in the bloodstream due to pressure changes, alleviating symptoms such as joint pain, breathing difficulties, and neurological impairments.
- Support for Altitude Sickness and Rapid Descent Issues: Altitude sickness can affect both astronauts and high-altitude aviators, causing symptoms like headaches, nausea, and fatigue due to rapid altitude changes. HBO2 enhances oxygen delivery, aiding in symptom relief and supporting faster recovery in cases where personnel experience sudden exposure to lower pressures and oxygen levels.
- Post-Mission Recovery for Astronauts: Astronauts returning from space often experience muscle and bone density loss due to prolonged weightlessness and may benefit from HBO2 to support recovery. Increased oxygen flow aids in tissue repair, muscle recovery, and reconditioning, helping astronauts regain strength and endurance post-mission.