|  | Conditions Treatments | Blood Disorders

Definition of Hyperbaric

Hyperbaric refers to an oxygen therapy that utilizes a special chamber called a hyperbaric chamber. Hyperbaric oxygen chambers have 2-1/2 times the air pressure of our normal atmosphere. These were originally used to treat scuba divers who had decompression problems, but now treat a variety of wounds and conditions.

  1. Benefits

    • Hyperbaric oxygen, a treatment that delivers 100 percent oxygen at varying pressures all greater than atmospheric pressure at sea level, acts as a drug. It infuses compromised tissue with oxygen, allowing the healing process to begin or accelerate. At different depths (pressure), the body elicits different responses. Duration and dose vary depending on the condition being treated.

    Uses

    • Certain chronic and acute conditions are candidates for hyperbaric treatment. These include cyanide/carbon-monoxide poisoning, decompression sickness, cerebral arterial gas embolism, brown spider bites, enhancement of healing in selected problem wounds, radiation necrosis, refractory osteomyelitis and more.

    Significance

    • It is also used in research for conditions such as closed head injury, traumatic brain injury, cerebral palsy/stroke, near drowning and myocardial infarction. Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy enables increased oxygen to be delivered to the tissues. It enhances white blood cell activity at a wound site, reduces edema (swelling), blocks the effects of carbon monoxide and cyanide and helps new peripheral vascular vessels and nerve endings to form in the damaged area.

    Contraindications

    • "Hyperbaric Medicine Today Online" (see reference 1), considers untreated pneumothorax, congenital spherocytosis, Disulfiram (Antabuse), Doxorubicin (Adriamycin), Cis-Platinum, and Mafenide Acetate (Sulfamylon), to be conditions under which this therapy would not be used.

    Availablility

    • Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy utilizes a special chamber referred, referred to as a pressure chamber, to increase the oxygen in the blood. It is uncommon for hospitals to have such a chamber, and there are only 17 states with hyperbaric treatment centers and 32 states with hyperbaric chambers in their hospitals. Hyperbaric chambers are accredited by the Undersea Hyperbaric and Medical Society.
      Portable hyperbaric chambers are increasing the availability of this treatment to more people as it gains acceptance and becomes more commonplace.

Blood Disorders - Related Articles