Hyberbaric Oxygen Frequently Asked Questions
What Is Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy?
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| Patients breathe 100% pure oxygen in a pressurized environment, promoting healing by increasing oxygen delivery to injured tissue |
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is a medical treatment that is used to treat a limited but diverse series of illnesses. It may be the primary treatment for some disorders, but it is often used as part of a combined program involving antibiotics and surgery. In order to provide patients with hyperbaric oxygen therapy, a pressurized chamber is necessary. The patient is placed within the chamber, which is then compressed to the level ordered by the consulting hyperbaric physician, using pure oxygen. Hyperbaric oxygen is a simple concept. The air we breathe contains 21% oxygen. Providing 100% oxygen by face mask without the use of a chamber has certain, limited, benefits. By providing pure oxygen in a pressurized chamber we are able to deliver 2-3 times that which can be provided by breathing 100% oxygen with no increase in pressure. This "hyperbaric" (or high pressure) dose of oxygen offers distinct therapeutic benefits.
How Does Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Work?
Oxygen, when delivered to a patient in a hyperbaric chamber, greatly increases the amount of oxygen that can be delivered to body tissues by the blood. All of the benefits provided by hyperbaric oxygen therapy are the result of this extra oxygen being carried within the bloodstream. There is really no benefit from the oxygen within the chamber in direct contact with wounds. This is the reason that your dressings are usually left in place during the treatment. Depending upon the reason for your referral to the Hyperbaric Oxygen Service, hyperbaric oxygen will be used to provide you with one or more of the following effects:
- Increased oxygen delivery to the injured tissue
- Greater blood vessel formation
- Advanced wound healing
- Improved infection control
- Preservation of damaged tissues
- Elimination of toxic substances
- Reduced effects from toxic substances
- Reduction or elimination of tissue obstruction by gas bubbles
The above effects may occur with only one or two treatments. However, it may be necessary to undergo as many as 40-50 treatments for maximum benefit. Your planned treatment course will be discussed with you in detail prior to starting therapy.
What Does Hyperbaric Oxygen Feel Like?
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| Communication between patients and nurses is easy via the built-in intercom system |
Hyperbaric oxygen treatments are normally painless. You simply lie comfortably and restfully in the chamber. You can listen to music, watch TV or nap if you wish and feel no differently than if you were lying in your own bed. You may experience a sensation of fullness in your ears during certain stages of the treatment. This is similar to that which is felt while flying in an airplane or driving down a mountain as the eardrum responds to changes in pressure. As part of your introduction to the treatment, you will be taught several easy methods to avoid ear discomfort.
Are There Any Side-Effects?
Generally, patients experience no aftereffects from hyperbaric oxygen therapy. However, some patients report a "crackling" in their ears between treatments. You can relieve this in the same way you cleared your ears during changes in pressure while in the chamber. If the crackling should continue, please report this to the staff. Some patients report feeling lightheaded for a few minutes following a treatment, but this is brief and the patients are able to continue with their normal daily activities. RARELY patients having hyperbaric oxygen therapy develop TEMPORARY changes in eyesight. Studies have shown in these rare cases that any altered vision is of short duration and will return to its pre-treatment status within six to eight weeks after the cessation of treatment. Like all medical treatments and procedures, some risks are associated with hyperbaric oxygen therapy. These risks are quite rare and they will be discussed with you before you sign your consent form for therapy.
How Many Treatments Will I Need?
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| Once inside the hyperbaric chamber, patients may listen to music, watch television or simply relax comfortably and take a nap |
The numbers of treatments are individualized to each patient. Most wound healing problems may require 30-40 treatments. We will normally provide once a day treatments for five days of each week on an outpatient basis. Your planned initial course of therapy will be discussed with you by the hyperbaric oxygen team before you start. The exact number of treatments will be determined by your response to hyperbaric oxygen therapy and you will be advised by the hyperbaric team as this information becomes available.
