Indications That Call For A Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy

A hyperbaric oxygen therapy is used to treat sick scuba divers and patients who are suffering from serious carbon monoxide poisoning. In addition to this, there are certain other medical conditions according to the Undersea and Hyperbaric Medicine Society. These conditions consist of the below mentioned:

1. Gas gangrene
2. Gas embolism
3. Air embolism
4. Compartment syndrome
5. Carbon monoxide poisoning
6. Decompression sickness
7. Blood loss because of anemia
8. Infections in the soft tissues
9. Skin grafts and flaps
10. Acute peripheral ischemia

There are two very special conditions that are treated with hyperbaric oxygen therapy in the UK. Are you wondering what those could be? Don’t worry because we have explained the same for you below. Thus, without any further delay, let us get started.

Special conditions that deserve hyperbaric oxygen therapy

1. Tissue damage: Osteoradionecrosis and Soft tissue radionecrosis are delayed medical injuries which take place both in the bones and tissues. The medical conditions take place because the bones and tissues have been exposed to radiation.

Most probably the patient experiences radiation during cancer treatment. What happens is the hallmark of these conditions is damage to the blood vessels present in the body.

As an outcome, the patient will suffer fibrosis and tissue hypoxia. Both the tissues and bones are at severe risk. The patient will experience unwanted issues with time. The symptoms of these problems may not be present for a longer period of time.

This is why so many of them do not have an idea as to what is going to happen with them in the coming future. The hyperbaric therapy here comes into being. It returns all the oxygen to the tissues ensuring they get enough time to heal.

2. Diabetic foot wounds: Another issue that is treated with hyperbaric oxygen therapy is diabetic foot wounds. This is a medical condition that is an outcome of impaired healing. Now impaired healing takes place because of tissue hypoxia. It has been shown that hyperbaric oxygen treatment is used to improve neovascularization.

For anyone who is new to the term “neovascularization”, it means the regrowth of new blood vessels in the body. Because of HBOT, tissue oxygenation is improved and the healing procedure takes place in the right manner.

Now that you are familiar with two special conditions that can be treated by the hyperbaric oxygen therapy, it is time to understand the type of chambers. This brings us to our next heading.

Types of hyperbaric oxygen chambers

The therapy of hyperbaric oxygen uses two different chambers keeping in mind the medical requirements of the patients.

1. Monoplace chamber: The first chamber is a monoplace chamber where only a single patient can be treated. The chamber is basically a plastic, long tube that is somewhat like an MRI machine. What happens is the patient enters the machine and slowly oxygen is pressurized.

2. Multiple chamber: This is either a room or chamber where more than one patient can be treated. However, the treatment obtained by the patients is not different. The only difference is patients take in oxygen either through hoods or masks. It is basically their choice.

Consider all this information and get started with the therapy.