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Hyperbaric Treatment for Wounds

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) refers to using pressurized pure oxygen to treat conditions such as wounds that won't heal in patients with diabetes or radiation injury.

  1. Pressurized Rooms

    • HBOT patients are put in rooms with air pressure that is several times higher than normal so as to better oxygenate the blood and lungs. The body then releases substances that act to heal wounds and resist infection.

    Equipment

    • Single-person HBOT units consist of a padded table that slides into a long plastic tube. Multiple-person units that accommodate several people have lightweight hoods or face masks that deliver oxygen.

    Multiple Treatments Required

    • The number of HBOT sessions necessary varies according to the condition and its severity. Nonhealing wounds may require 25 to 30 outpatient treatments, with each treatment lasting about two hours.

    Types of Wounds Treated

    • HBOT is effective not only for chronic wounds in diabetics, but also for wounds related to blood vessel disease as well as crush injuries, burns, gangrene, skin grafts, bone infections and large wounds that are slow to heal.

    Expense

    • Multiple sessions, tests, monitoring, and assessment of patients can make HBOT quite expensive. Per-treatment cost ranges from $100 to $150.

    Considerations

    • Because of its efficacy, insurers do cover HBOT, but if this is a treatment you are considering, check with your insurance company first.

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