Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Procedure
Overview
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) delivers 100% oxygen inside a sealed chamber where the air pressure is higher than normal. This process raises the amount of oxygen in the blood, which supports the body’s ability to heal itself.
Recent research continues to explore other uses for oxygen therapy, showing potential for treating more health conditions. The science behind HBOT relies on increasing oxygen to help damaged tissues recover more efficiently.
Reasons for Use
Doctors use hyperbaric oxygen therapy to help the body recover from serious health problems by increasing the amount of oxygen that reaches damaged tissues. By raising air pressure inside the therapy chamber, patients’ lungs absorb much more oxygen.
This removes harmful trapped air bubbles and encourages new blood vessels and tissue to grow. Conditions commonly treated with this therapy include:
- Decompression sickness (such as in divers)
- Carbon monoxide poisoning
- Gas gangrene and other severe infections
- Crush injuries and serious trauma
- Serious burns
- Nonhealing wounds, including diabetic foot ulcers
- Skin grafts and flaps at risk of tissue death
- Radiation injury from cancer treatment
- Necrotizing soft tissue infections
- Sudden hearing or vision loss from reduced blood flow
- Severe anemia when transfusions are not possible
- Brain abscesses
- Osteomyelitis (severe bone infection)
Some studies also explore its use for stroke, traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, and even complex issues such as autism and COVID-19. In each of these cases, the goal is to deliver extra oxygen where it is most needed. Benefits to the body include:
| Benefit | How it Helps |
|---|---|
| Restores oxygen to tissue | Aids healing in damaged areas. |
| Fights bacteria | Supports the immune system. |
| Reduces swelling | Lowers inflammation and tissue stress. |
| Supports cell growth | Helps new blood vessels and skin form. |
Doctors often combine hyperbaric oxygen therapy with other treatments to give the best possible support for healing and recovery. This therapy provides an important option for people with conditions where normal healing is slow, blocked, or at risk.
Possible Complications
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy usually carries a good safety record, but some risks relate to increased air pressure and breathing pure oxygen. Most issues resolve on their own, but a few can be more serious. The risk may increase with longer or repeated treatments. Common side effects and potential complications include:
- Ear Problems: Ear pain and injuries like eardrum rupture or fluid leaking from the ears.
- Air Pressure Effects: Barotrauma, sinus pressure, and nosebleeds from changing air pressure.
- Vision Changes: Temporary shifts in eyesight or the start of cataracts if treatments are very frequent.
- Lung Issues: Occasional short-term breathing problems and, rarely, lung collapse.
- Oxygen Toxicity: High oxygen levels may sometimes trigger seizures.
- Gas Bubbles: Rarely, gas bubbles can cause an embolism if air enters the blood vessels.
- Hearing Loss: Pressure or ear injuries may cause hearing loss in some patients.
- Claustrophobia: Some find the chamber confining and could feel anxious.
- Diabetes Risks: Those on insulin may see a drop in blood sugar levels.
- Other Possible Risks: Headaches, migraines, fever, vision loss, and, in rare cases, tissue death from poor blood flow.
| Risk | Possible Effect | How Common? |
|---|---|---|
| Ear Injuries | Pain, ruptured eardrum | Common |
| Sinus Pressure | Pain, nosebleeds | Fairly common |
| Seizures | Due to high oxygen | Rare |
| Lung Collapse | Breathing problems | Rare |
| Oxygen Toxicity | Seizures, confusion | Rare |
| Air Embolism | Blocked blood flow | Very rare |
Steps to Reduce Complications
To lower these risks, the medical team takes several actions:
- They teach patients to yawn or swallow to help adjust ear pressure.
- If ear pain is an ongoing problem, doctors may place ear tubes.
- For sinus or allergy problems, a provider may recommend a decongestant or antihistamine before treatment.
- Providers may give medicine to help those anxious about confined spaces relax.
- The team enforces safety rules to avoid fire risk in the oxygen-rich chamber.
People should talk to their care provider before starting hyperbaric oxygen therapy, especially if they have heart disease, hearing issues, a history of migraines, or have had ear surgery.
Getting Ready for Treatment
Before starting hyperbaric oxygen therapy, patients should follow important steps for safety and comfort. The healthcare provider gives each person a set of instructions to prepare. Patients must wear a hospital-approved gown or scrubs, leaving regular clothes outside the chamber.
Personal items, especially those that create heat like lighters or battery-powered devices, are not allowed. Patients should avoid using any skincare or hair products, such as lotions, makeup, or hair spray. Medical staff must approve any extra items brought into the chamber.
What You Can Expect
While Receiving Oxygen Treatment
People usually receive hyperbaric oxygen therapy at a hospital or clinic. The procedure may take place in a clear, single-person tube called a monoplace chamber or in a larger room—a multiplace chamber—with several people.
In a monoplace chamber, the person lies on a bed that slides into the tube, where the air is filled with 100% oxygen. In a multiplace chamber, people sit or lie together, breathing pure oxygen through a mask or a hood covering the head.
The air in the chamber is pressurized to help the lungs take in more oxygen, which moves into the blood plasma and helps health problems related to poor blood flow or tissue damage. The session usually lasts about 1½ to 2 hours. During the process, healthcare staff monitor blood pressure, pulse, and general comfort.
| Chamber Type | How Oxygen is Given | Environment |
|---|---|---|
| Monoplace | Directly in chamber | Clear tube, 100% oxygen |
| Multiplace | Mask or hood | Room with several people |
What Happens After the Oxygen Session
After the therapy ends, the team checks the person’s ears, blood pressure, and pulse for any changes. Most people may feel a bit tired or hungry but can usually return to normal daily activities soon after leaving the hospital. There is no need for special care at home unless directed by a healthcare professional.
Findings
Patients may need different numbers of sessions based on their specific condition. For example:
| Condition | Example Sessions Needed |
|---|---|
| Carbon monoxide poisoning | A few sessions |
| Nonhealing wounds | 40 or more sessions |
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy increases oxygen to tissues and cells, which supports wound healing, lowers inflammation, and helps the immune system work better. Medical specialists often combine this therapy with other care to target complex health issues.
