PRECAUTIONS
The therapy is essentially painless. It is common for patients to experience pressure changes within their middle ears during compression. The attending staff will assist the patient in adjusting to these changes. Patients with colds or upper respiratory infections may be predisposed to middle ear or sinus barotrauma and should not undergo therapy until the condition abates, unless emergency or urgent hyperbaric oxygen therapy is inidicated. Patients with severe claustrophobia may not tolerate the daily 2 hour treatments.
Smoking and hyperbaric oxygen therapy are clinically incompatible. All patients are urged to stop smoking during the period of their therapy. If this is not possible, therapy may have to be discontinued.
Treatment protocols have been carefully designed to minimize pulmonary and central nervous system oxygen toxicity. Certain drugs and other medications may produce unwanted side effects and should be avoided. The hyperbaric physician will provide information on drugs and medications in question. Rigorous safeguards are followed to minimize complications. Sorne patients undergoing prolonged periods of daily hyperbaric oxygen treatment may experience visual acuity changes that are usually reversible. The exact mechanism remains obscure, but is likely due to lenticular changes.
Other contraindications to hyperbaric therapy are severe asthma or COPD, or significant cataracts. Your hyperbaric consultant will be able to advise you on these patients.
ACCEPTED INDICATIONS
Approved uses for hyperbaric oxygen therapy by the Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society as described in the Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Committee Report, 1996.
1. Air Gas Embolism
2. Carbon Monoxide Poisoning and Smoke Inhalation, and Carbon Monoxide Complicated by Cyanide Poisoning
3. Decompression Sickness
4. Clostridial Myonecrosis (Gas Gangrene)
5. Thermal Burns
6. Radiation Tissue Damage (Osteoradionecrosis)
7. Necrotizing Soft Tissue Infections (Subcutaneous Tissue, Muscle, Fascia)
8. Enhancement of Healing in Selected Problem Wounds
9. Crush Injury, Compartment Syndrome, and other Acute Traumatic Ischemias
10. Osteomyelitis (Refractory)
11. Exceptional Blood Loss (Anemia)
12. Skin Grafts and Flaps (Compromised)
13. Intracranial Abscess
RESEARCH
Our staff is on the forefront of research in the areas of recompression therapy, crush injuries, NBC combat casualty care, nonhealing wounds and burns. We work to broaden the understanding and acceptance of HBO therapy through both clinical and basic scientific research. We are leaders in the area of hyperbaric chamber design and fabrication. In fact, the initial prototype for the concrete multiplace hyperbaric chamber was constructed here.