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Dec 2, 2023 · Hyperbaric oxygen therapy involves breathing pure oxygen in a pressurized environment. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is a well-established treatment for decompression sickness, a potential risk of scuba diving. Other conditions treated with hyperbaric oxygen therapy include: Serious infections. Bubbles of air in blood vessels.
- Doctors & Departments
Evaluating the use of hyperbaric oxygen therapy for children...
- Individual (Monoplace) Hyperbaric Oxygen Unit
In a one-person hyperbaric oxygen unit, a person rests...
- Care at Mayo Clinic
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy can save the lives of people with...
- Doctors & Departments
- On this page:
- The issue
- Background
- How hyperbaric treatment works
- The safety of hyperbaric chambers
- Unproven claims about hyperbaric oxygen therapy
- Potential risks
- Minimizing your risk
- Health Canada's role
•The issue
•Background
•How hyperbaric treatment works
•The safety of hyperbaric chambers
•Unproven claims about hyperbaric oxygen therapy
•Potential risks
While hyperbaric oxygen therapy is recognized as an effective treatment for 14 specific conditions listed below, the operators of some private clinics claim it can also be used to treat such conditions as multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, cancer, AIDS, stroke and migraine headaches. There is no scientific proof to support these claims.
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is a well-established medical treatment. In October 2011, the Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society recognized the therapy as an effective treatment for 14 specific conditions:
•embolisms (air or gas bubbles in the bloodstream, which may travel to the brain or lungs);
•carbon monoxide poisoning (from inhaling smoke or car exhaust);
•gas gangrene;
•crush injury, Compartment Syndrome and other acute traumatic problems where blood flow is reduced or cut off (e.g., frostbite);
•decompression sickness (the bends);
The therapy promotes healing in these 14 conditions by delivering a high concentration of oxygen quickly and deeply into the affected areas of the body.
During treatment, a patient goes into a closed chamber. The atmospheric pressure inside the chamber is increased. When the pressure reaches the level prescribed for the treatment, the patient is given 100 percent oxygen to breathe for a set amount of time. The patient breathes the oxygen through a hood and is advised when to take "breaks" and breathe the regular air inside the chamber. Regular air is 21 percent oxygen.
Some hyperbaric chambers hold only one patient. Others can accommodate two or more people. On occasion, a care-giver will go into the chamber with a patient.
The duration of each treatment, the number of treatments and the pressure used all vary, depending on the patient's condition. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy treatments normally take place in hospitals or private clinics.
Hyperbaric chambers are medical devices and require a licence from Health Canada. Before granting a licence, Health Canada experts review technical information to ensure that the medical device is safe and effective when used for specific conditions.
Health Canada has reviewed the scientific evidence related to hyperbaric chambers. The evidence shows that chambers are effective in treating the 14 conditions recognized by the Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society. Therefore, Health Canada has issued medical device licences for hyperbaric chambers to treat only these 14 conditions. No device licences have been issued for the use of hyperbaric chambers to treat other conditions.
Be skeptical of anyone who advertises or offers hyperbaric oxygen therapy to treat conditions such as multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, cancer, AIDS, stroke or migraine headaches. At present there is no scientific proof that this therapy is useful in treating these other conditions.
It is very expensive to have treatments at a private clinic. People who pursue hyperbaric oxygen therapy for these other conditions may spend a lot of money for little or no benefit. Even worse, they may delay, or in some cases not receive, proven treatments that could help them or their loved ones.
When used to treat recognized medical conditions, hyperbaric oxygen therapy is generally safe, as long as:
•the chamber is properly installed according to municipal and provincial regulations;
•operators and attendants are properly trained; and
•a certified hyperbaric physician is either on site, or can be reached easily and quickly.
However, there are risks. Before consenting to treatment, you should consider these factors:
•Pressure inside the chamber can damage the middle and inner ear, nasal sinuses, lungs and teeth in both adults and children.
If you decide to pursue this therapy on the advice of your doctor, Health Canada recommends the following steps:
•Make sure your medical condition is on the list of recognized conditions that respond to hyperbaric oxygen therapy. (See the Need More Info? section below for more on this.)
•Be candid with the hyperbaric physician who interviews you. The doctor needs all the facts to determine whether you are medically capable of undergoing treatment.
•Make sure the hyperbaric chamber has been licensed by Health Canada. You can do this on the Internet by searching Health Canada's database of approved medical devices.
If your treatment is going to be at a private clinic:
•Verify that the installation and operation of the hyperbaric chamber comply with recognized safety standards.
Hyperbaric chambers must be licensed by Health Canada before they can be imported and sold in Canada. The Medical Devices Regulations require that the medical devices imported and sold in Canada are safe, effective, and of quality manufacture. This is achieved by a combination of a pre-market review prior to licensing, and post-market surveillance ...
Jan 7, 2023 · Other names for hyperbaric oxygen therapy include HBO therapy or HBOT. For what is hyperbaric oxygen therapy used? The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved hyperbaric oxygen therapy to help treat the following: Air or gas bubbles in your blood vessels (air or gas embolism). The bends (decompression sickness). Burns.
Oct 7, 2022 · Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is used to accelerate the healing of certain infections, open wounds, and specific types of poisoning. Learn more about its many benefits.
May 30, 2023 · What Is Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy? How a Space-Age Tube Can Heal Wounds and More. Mar 19, 2021. University of Michigan Medicine. What to know before receiving hyperbaric oxygen chamber therapy. Mayo Clinic. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy. U.S. Food & Drug Administration. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy: Get the facts. Johns Hopkins Medicine.
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is a well-established medical treatment. In May 2012, the Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society recognized the therapy as an effective treatment for the following 14 conditions: Embolisms (air or gas bubbles in the bloodstream, which may travel to the brain or lungs)
According to the UHMS (Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society), along with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid services and other third party providers, hyperbaric oxygen therapy is defined as when a patient breathes 100% oxygen in a pressurized chamber at 1.4 ATA or higher.
