Hyperbaric oxygen therapy, or HBO, is a medical treatment that increases the amount of oxygen in the patient's blood, allowing oxygen to pass more easily through the plasma into the wounds to heal them. It is used to treat a wide range of medical conditions, including wounds that have not healed properly, infections and certain types of cancer. During an HBO therapy session, the patient lies down in a specially designed chamber and is exposed to pure oxygen under increased atmospheric pressure. This increased pressure helps the oxygen to dissolve more easily into the bloodstream and reach areas of the body that may have reduced blood flow or low oxygen levels. As a result, HBO can promote healing, reduce inflammation and increase the body's ability to fight off infections.
People with certain medical conditions benefit from increased levels of oxygen.
- Carbon monoxide poisoning
- Cyanide poisoning
- Crush injuries
- Gas gangrene
- Decompression sickness
- Acute or traumatic reduced blood flow in the arteries
- Compromised skin grafts and flaps
- Delayed radiation injury
- Flesh-eating disease
- Air or gas bubble trapped in a blood vessel
- Actinomycosis
- Diabetic wounds that are not healing properly
For more information, call the CAMC Wound Healing Center at (304) 388-7040.