What is the medical use for Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy?
The Undersea and Hyperbaric Society approved the use HBOT as a primary treatment for three conditions: air or gas embolism, decompression sickness, and carbon monoxide poisoning. It also approved it as a secondary form of treatment for the following conditions: radiation tissue damage (soft tissue and osteoradionecrosis), gas gangrene, compromised skin grafts and flaps, necrotizing soft tissue infections (subcutaneous, muscle, fascia), crush injury, compartmental syndrome, acute traumatic ischemias, chronic refractory osteomyelitis, and problem non-healing wounds. Why does it work for wound healing? HBOT works in wound healing by allowing the increased concentrations of oxygen in the plasma to circulate and oxygenate wounds that are hypoxic. It also increases the distance that oxygen molecules can diffuse from the vessels into the tissues. Research has demonstrated it causes vasoconstriction (reducing edema), increases collagen synthesis and the formation of new blood vessels, and enha
