What is Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HOT)?

Hyperbaric (‘hyper’ latin meaning – more than normal and baric – atmospheric pressure) Oxygen Therapy is a medical procedure for increasing the amount of oxygen reaching the tissues of the body.

This therapy involves the systemic delivery of oxygen at values two to three greater than atmospheric pressure. Patients are placed in a chamber and breathe 100% oxygen while exposed to elevated surrounding by pressure.

It has long been known that oxygen is required for healing of diseased or damaged tissues and many studies have shown that intermittent HOT improves and accelerates the healing process in selected cases. It may be the main treatment for certain conditions, but is usually part of an overall plan of care, which may include surgery, antibiotics and/or other therapy. As a new application of an established technology, HOT is helping to resolve a growing number of difficult, expensive or otherwise hopeless medical problems.

How does it work?

Air in the atmosphere contains 21% oxygen. This oxygen is required for normal tissue function (metabolisme), and is carried to the rest of the body via the blood stream. Under normal conditions, oxygen is carried mainly by the red blood cells and only a tiny amount is dissolved in plasma (the fluid medium of the blood). The carrying capacity of the red blood cells is normally almost 98% full when a person is breathing just room air. Therefore breathing 100% oxygen (sea level pressure) can only increase the amount of oxygen carried by only 2-3%.

The plasma, on the other hand, contains very little dissolved oxygen. By breathing 100% oxygen in a pressurized chamber 10-15 times more oxygen can be dissolved in the plasma. In this manner a larger dose of oxygen can be delivered to needy tissues.

This ‘hyperbaric dose’ of oxygen has several distinct therapeutic benefits. It:~

What do I need to do before undergoing treatment?

After your doctor’s referral letter has been received, you will be requested to come in for assessment. You will be seen by a Hyperbaric physician, a medical history and series of tests will be undertaken which may include Chest X-ray, ECG, hearing test, eye test, and blood test. If you have a non-healing wound, a special test may be performed. You will never be permitted to undergo HOT if we consider you to be at increased risk of harm.

If you have been receiving medication or other forms of treatment, please provide us the details. This is very important because some medication may change your body response to oxygen.

You will also be required to sign a consent form before undergoing the first treatment.

How risky is HOT?

As with all medical procedures and treatments, there are some side effects that may result from exposure to hyperbaric oxygen. These are rare but will be discussed with you by HOT physician.

What does a treatment feel like and what are the stages?

HOT is normally non eventful. The chamber is large enough to hold a seven –foot patient. It has a clear acrylic ceiling that allows you to see what is going on around you at all times. You can watch TV or listen to music during treatment and an intercom allows you to talk with chamber operators any time.

HOT has three stages, compression, treatment and decompression. During compression you may feel a ‘fullness’ (in your ears similar to that which is felt while flying in an airplane as the eardrum responds to changes in pressure). The chamber operator will tell you how to relieve the pressure in your ear. At this stage the chamber may be a little noisy. As the pressure is increased you will feel warm.

Once the pressure is reached, hyperbaric oxygen treatment begins and you breathe 100% oxygen.

During decompression, you might experience a ‘crackling’ sensation in your ears. It is relieved by swallowing or yawning. Upon the completion of the treatment the pressure will be reduced back to normal. At this time the temperature will drop and you will feel a little cold.