Hyperbaric Oxygen Producing Environment

Hyperbaric Oxygen

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Mission:

To provide an environment for hope and relief by using high quality and cost effective care committed to standard practice, teaching and innovation in Hyperbaric Medicine and Wound Care in Aruba.

WHAT IS HYPERBARIC OXYGEN THERAPY (HBOT)?

The term "Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy" is derived from the Greek language. "Hyper" means high and "baric" means pressure. It is defined as breathing 100 percent oxygen while the entire body is under increased pressure (that is higher than at sea level). More simply, patients rest inside a small room or chamber and breathe oxygen for one to several hours. These chambers may be round or square, built for individuals or small groups, and made out of clear acrylic or thick steel. All are designed to ensure patient safety and all help to heal wounds in the same way. HBOT is safe, painless and cost-effective.

WHAT IS THE TREATMENT LIKE?

The first few minutes of the treatment (commonly referred to as a dive) can be noisy. It may get warm at first, and then the temperature will be adjusted to a comfortable setting. The patient will feel the change in pressure in his or her ears during the first few minutes (similar to the feeling while in an airplane). Otherwise, it should be unnoticeable. Patients of all ages generally tolerate the treatments very well and use the time to read, sleep, watch TV or just relax.

WHAT CONDITIONS BENEFIT FROM HBOT?

Since HBOT increases oxygen delivery throughout the body, it can be an effective adjunctive therapy for treating some medical conditions associated with insufficient blood and oxygen flow to the affected tissues. These include:

• Select Chronic Non-Healing Wounds

• Diabetic foot with non-healing wounds

• Acute Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

• Crush Injuries; Compartment Syndrome

• Acute Ischemia (from trauma or blocked arteries)

• Decompression Sickness

• Advanced Diabetic Ulcers

• Gas Gangrene

• Necrotizing Soft Tissue Infections

• Refractory Osteomyelitis (bone infection)

• Radiation Tissue Damage

• Compromised Skin Grafts and Flaps

• Surgical Reimplantation of Limbs (or severed limbs)

• Idiopathic Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss (New! approved on October 8, 2011 by the UHMS Board of Directors)

HOW DOES HBOT AID IN WOUND HEALING?

Breathing oxygen under increased pressure causes oxygen to dissolve in the liquid part of the blood (known as plasma) and reach tissues that suffer from lack of oxygen. This lack of oxygen is one of the major reasons that wounds and infections don't heal. Breathing oxygen under pressure can increase the oxygen dissolved in the blood 10 to 20 times as much as breathing oxygen under normal atmospheric pressure. It can also increase the oxygen in Ischemic tissues 100 to 200 times or more. As a result, normal physiologic functions in the body may be restored, stimulating healing, fighting infection, promoting growth of new capillaries, and more.

HBOT can also help to rid the blood of certain toxic gases (like Carbon Monoxide and Cyanide) that bind to hemoglobin in the red blood cells and to the energy-producing mechanisms inside cells, which can lead to brain and heart damage...or even death.

 

ARE THERE ANY SIDE EFFECTS?

 

HBOT is one of the safest medical therapies available. The most common side effect is pressure sensation in the ears, like one might experience as an airplane descends before landing. Our staff will monitor patients constantly during treatment and will stop the pressure before the ears start to hurt. Pressure can also build up in the sinuses or dental cavities. Some people with lung disease (for example, severe asthma and emphysema) may be at risk of lung damage due to pressure effects. People with congestive heart failure need to be monitored for acute decompensation. It is important to monitor blood sugar closely for diabetes patients on medicine, since the oxygen can precipitate a drop in the serum glucose.

 

In high doses, oxygen can have side effects too. After many treatments, visual acuity may get better or worse. However, these effects are temporary and revert to normal after the treatments end. Oxygen can also cause a seizure in a few patients (studies have reported seizures in 1 per 4,000 patient treatments or as rare as 1 in 20,000). Oxygen seizures do not lead to Epilepsy or seizure disorders; they are treated by turning off the oxygen for a few minutes and then reducing the amount of time spent breathing oxygen during each treatment.

 

Patients of all ages generally tolerate the treatments very well and use the time to read, sleep, watch TV or just relax. All patients are thoroughly educated by staff members before beginning HBOT and instructions are reviewed frequently. Questions are encouraged, and family members are invited to attend.