Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is a treatment to increase a person's blood oxygen level, which can prevent tissue death, promote healing, and help fight infection. This treatment involves a person being in an enclosed chamber while 100% oxygen is pumped in at high pressure.
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy may be used to treat conditions such as severe carbon monoxide poisoning, some types of infections, decompression sickness, burns, poorly healing wounds, extreme blood loss, and injuries that cut off oxygen supply to the muscles and other soft tissues.
Large medical centres can often provide hyperbaric oxygen therapy, but it may not be available in smaller hospitals.
Current as of: March 22, 2023
Author: Healthwise Staff
Medical Review:Adam Husney MD - Family Medicine & Anne C. Poinier MD - Internal Medicine & Kathleen Romito MD - Family Medicine & R. Steven Tharratt MD, MPVM, FACP, FCCP - Pulmonology, Critical Care Medicine, Medical Toxicology & W. David Colby IV MSc, MD, FRCPC - Infectious Disease & Heather Quinn MD - Family Medicine