What is the purpose of a hyperbaric chamber?
Hyperbaric chambers are used to deliver hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT). HBOT was developed to treat underwater divers suffering from decompression sickness (the bends). It has since been approved by the Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society for 13 conditions including: • air or gas embolism • carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning • smoke inhalation • gas gangrene caused by certain bacteria • decompression sickness • radiation tissue damage • thermal burns • non-healing skin grafts • crush injuries • wounds that fail to heal through conventional treatment • serious blood loss • intracranial abscess. Although hyperbaric therapy has become increasingly popular for other uses, especially in sports medicine, its use is controversial. Terrell Owens of the Philadelphia Eagles used HBOT for an ankle injury prior to playing in the Super Bowl in 2005, but medical professionals questioned the appropriateness of this treatment. Source: The Gale Group. Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine, 3rd ed.
