LDS Hospital
Hyperbaric Medicine
Hyperbaric oxygen (HBO2) therapy is a unique treatment approach to certain infections, poisoning and complicated wounds that involve the administration of 100 percent oxygen at pressure two to three times greater than that at normal sea level. The patient is placed within a clear, acrylic chamber that is filled with oxygen at certain pressures based upon each patient's specific condition.
When a patient breathes 100 percent oxygen under pressure, greater amounts of oxygen are dissolved into the bloodstream and delivered to the body tissues in amounts sufficient to promote healing. The benefit comes from the breathing of the oxygen under pressure, not from the oxygen being in direct contact with the skin or wound.
How it works
HBO2 therapy works by:
HBO2 therapy is considered a primary treatment modality for:
The patient is placed within a clear, acrylic mono-place chamber that is compressed with 100 percent oxygen at certain pressures determined by a trained physician. Compression generally takes five to seven minutes. Decompression may take up to 10 minutes. Communication is maintained to the chamber via an intercom link. Patients are allowed to watch TV, relax, listen to music or even sleep while being treated. Medical personnel always monitor the patient throughout the entire treatment period. A typical patient treatment schedule would be 90 minutes of oxygen at the prescribed pressure, but the length of treatment, depth (amount of pressure) and the number and frequency of treatments vary according to the condition of the patient being treated. Usually, four to 24 hours will be allowed between treatments. The number of HBO2 treatments necessary is dependent upon the patient's condition. In emergency cases, such as decompression sickness or air embolism, a patient may need only one or two treatments. Disease for which angiogenesis is the prime purpose may require 20 to 40 treatments. The actual number of treatments will vary on the clinical response given to the patient. A consultation with a trained physician is required to determine number of treatments, length and depth for each case. Because 100 percent oxygen is in use during the treatment, safety precautions must be observed for the safety of the patient and the staff. Certain items cannot be taken into the chamber. Among them are lighters or matches, cigarettes, nylons, synthetic materials, wigs or hairpieces, petroleum jelly, ointments, hearing aids, watches, makeup, lipstick or lip balm, lotions, hairspray, hair oil or relaxers, or hard contact lenses. Because the vasocontricting effect of nicotine interferes with neovascular proliferation, patients are not allowed to smoke during the entire course of HBO2 therapy. Smokers also have a higher CO level than nonsmokers, and thus fail to receive the full benefit of oxygenation even when not in the hyperbaric chamber. Potential side effects
As with any treatment, side effects are possible; however, they are minimal. The most common is barotrauma to the ears and sinuses caused by pressure changes. Patients are taught autoinflationary techniques to promote adequate clearing of the ears during treatment. Decongestants may be helpful. This problem is temporary and resolves when HBO2 treatment is completed. If the patient has ear pain or is unable to clear their ears, the insertion of myringotomy tubes may be necessary before treatment continues. Oxygen toxicity can cause CNS and pulmonary effects. Seizures occur rarely during treatment and are self-limited. Seizures will cease when the patient is removed from breathing the pure oxygen. Pulmonary oxygen toxicity may occur, but is very rarely seen with the treatment protocols used. Some patients may suffer claustrophobia. This is managed by maintaining communication, the use of relaxation techniques and mild sedation if necessary. Some patients develop temporary changes in eyesight; these typically occur in those individuals who have large numbers (> 30) of treatment. Vision usually returns to normal within eight weeks following the end of treatments. Patients with cataracts may experience accelerated maturation of the cataract, but the treatments do not cause cataract formation. The HBO2 medical staff working in the unit are skillfully trained in the prevention and handling of problems that may occur. When you can get it
Contact the Hyperbaric Department. An appointment will be scheduled to meet with one of the nurse practitioners and physician. Your current and past medical history information will be helpful. Please bring this information with you to facilitate your initial consult. We will also gather data from your referring physician. Contact us
For more information about hyperbaric oxygen treatment, contact the center at: Intermountain Hyperbaric Medicine Center
LDS Hospital
8th Avenue and C Street
Salt Lake City, Utah 84143
Intermountain Hyperbaric Medicine Center
East-6
Phone: (801) 408-3623
24-hour emergency
IHC Life Flight
Phone: (801) 408-1234
HBO2 therapy works by:
- Saturating the plasma with oxygen, resulting in increased oxygen delivery to the tissues
- Dissolving sufficient oxygen in the plasma to support cellular function without utilizing hemoglobin
- Increasing the oxygen tension in hypoxic areas such as chronically infected, irradiated or compromised tissues
- Enhancing the white blood cells' capacity to kill bacteria
- Reducing edema through vasoconstriction
- Increases vascular endothelial growth factor
- Increases growth factor receptors on fibroblasts
HBO2 therapy is considered a primary treatment modality for:
- Acute gas embolism
- Clostridial myositis and myonecrosis (gas gangrene)
- Crush injury, compartment syndrome, and other acute ischemias
- Decompression sickness
- Enhancement of healing in selected problem wounds
- Exceptional anemia
- Intracranial abscess
- Necrotizing soft tissue infections
- Osteomyelitis (refractory)
- Delayed radiation injury (soft tissue and bony necrosis)
- Skin grafts and flaps
- Thermal burns
The patient is placed within a clear, acrylic mono-place chamber that is compressed with 100 percent oxygen at certain pressures determined by a trained physician. Compression generally takes five to seven minutes. Decompression may take up to 10 minutes. Communication is maintained to the chamber via an intercom link. Patients are allowed to watch TV, relax, listen to music or even sleep while being treated. Medical personnel always monitor the patient throughout the entire treatment period. A typical patient treatment schedule would be 90 minutes of oxygen at the prescribed pressure, but the length of treatment, depth (amount of pressure) and the number and frequency of treatments vary according to the condition of the patient being treated. Usually, four to 24 hours will be allowed between treatments. The number of HBO2 treatments necessary is dependent upon the patient's condition. In emergency cases, such as decompression sickness or air embolism, a patient may need only one or two treatments. Disease for which angiogenesis is the prime purpose may require 20 to 40 treatments. The actual number of treatments will vary on the clinical response given to the patient. A consultation with a trained physician is required to determine number of treatments, length and depth for each case. Because 100 percent oxygen is in use during the treatment, safety precautions must be observed for the safety of the patient and the staff. Certain items cannot be taken into the chamber. Among them are lighters or matches, cigarettes, nylons, synthetic materials, wigs or hairpieces, petroleum jelly, ointments, hearing aids, watches, makeup, lipstick or lip balm, lotions, hairspray, hair oil or relaxers, or hard contact lenses. Because the vasocontricting effect of nicotine interferes with neovascular proliferation, patients are not allowed to smoke during the entire course of HBO2 therapy. Smokers also have a higher CO level than nonsmokers, and thus fail to receive the full benefit of oxygenation even when not in the hyperbaric chamber. Potential side effects
As with any treatment, side effects are possible; however, they are minimal. The most common is barotrauma to the ears and sinuses caused by pressure changes. Patients are taught autoinflationary techniques to promote adequate clearing of the ears during treatment. Decongestants may be helpful. This problem is temporary and resolves when HBO2 treatment is completed. If the patient has ear pain or is unable to clear their ears, the insertion of myringotomy tubes may be necessary before treatment continues. Oxygen toxicity can cause CNS and pulmonary effects. Seizures occur rarely during treatment and are self-limited. Seizures will cease when the patient is removed from breathing the pure oxygen. Pulmonary oxygen toxicity may occur, but is very rarely seen with the treatment protocols used. Some patients may suffer claustrophobia. This is managed by maintaining communication, the use of relaxation techniques and mild sedation if necessary. Some patients develop temporary changes in eyesight; these typically occur in those individuals who have large numbers (> 30) of treatment. Vision usually returns to normal within eight weeks following the end of treatments. Patients with cataracts may experience accelerated maturation of the cataract, but the treatments do not cause cataract formation. The HBO2 medical staff working in the unit are skillfully trained in the prevention and handling of problems that may occur. When you can get it
Contact the Hyperbaric Department. An appointment will be scheduled to meet with one of the nurse practitioners and physician. Your current and past medical history information will be helpful. Please bring this information with you to facilitate your initial consult. We will also gather data from your referring physician. Contact us
For more information about hyperbaric oxygen treatment, contact the center at: Intermountain Hyperbaric Medicine Center
LDS Hospital
8th Avenue and C Street
Salt Lake City, Utah 84143
Intermountain Hyperbaric Medicine Center
East-6
Phone: (801) 408-3623
24-hour emergency
IHC Life Flight
Phone: (801) 408-1234
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