Hyperbaric Medicine: Boost Your Healing

Although some disorders are mainly treated with hyperbaric oxygen therapy, it's most often combined with other types of medical treatments. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is an approved treatment for many types of conditions, including:

• Anemia.
• Bone infections.
• Carbon monoxide and cyanide poisoning.
• Chronic wounds, including non-healing skin grafts and flaps.
• Decompression sickness.
• Diabetic wounds in the feet and legs.
• Embolism.
• Necrotic soft tissue infections.
• Smoke inhalation.
• Thermal burns.
• Tissue damage from radiation treatment.
• Traumatic injuries that prevent blood from reaching tissues or organs.

Before your hyperbaric oxygen treatment, we'll make sure you're comfortable and at ease. We can answer any questions you may have about the treatment and what to expect. To help make sure you have the safest, most effective session, please be sure to:

• Give us a complete list of your prescription and over-the-counter medicines. We need the list to see if you're taking any medicines that may change your body's response to oxygen.
• Report an illness, like a cold or the flu, to your HBO care team. You may need to be treated after your illness is over.
• Remove watches, jewelry, hearing aids and other prosthetic devices before you begin your treatment.
• Wash all oil and alcohol-based products out of your hair and off your skin.
• You may have to take vitamin E about 30 minutes before each treatment.

During hyperbaric oxygen therapy treatments, you'll lie comfortably inside the HBO chamber. Because the HBO chamber is clear acrylic, you can see the therapist or nurse during the whole treatment. You can also speak to the staff through the chamber's intercom. During therapy, you can relax, nap or watch television.

After the door to the chamber is closed, the oxygen begins to circulate. The chamber's pressure, which is prescribed by an HBO physician, is slowly raised over a short time. During this compression period, you may feel fullness in your ears, similar to when you fly in an airplane. The hyperbaric medicine staff offers ways to ease this feeling, but it often goes away once the right amount of pressure is reached.

Treatment lasts 120 to 154 minutes, based on your condition. However, some developing conditions may need longer treatment sessions.

The number of sessions also varies based on how your body responds to the treatment. You may need HBO therapy over a few days or over several months. Your hyperbaric provider will check on your progress regularly and adjust your therapy plan as needed.

You shouldn't notice any side effects from your treatments and should be able to resume your normal daily activities right away. However, in some cases, patients have reported feeling light-headed or tired for a short period of time.

Your doctor will monitor your progress throughout your course of treatment and will let you know when HBO sessions are no longer needed.

You'll be evaluated by a doctor who specializes in hyperbaric oxygen therapy. The doctor will oversee your treatment, which is most often given by respiratory therapists and registered nurses. They're specially trained in hyperbaric medicine.

Our team also works closely with other specialists to make sure you get care that's tailored to your unique needs. We work together with:

• Anesthesiologists.
• Emergency medicine physicians.
• Infectious disease doctors.
• Internal medicine doctors.
• Orthopaedists.
• Podiatrists.
• Pulmonologists.
• Trauma specialists.
• Vascular specialists.

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is available at ProMedica Toledo Hospital. You'll need to have a referral from your doctor.

Doctors can make referrals seven days a week, 8 a.m. - 6:30 p.m. Please call ProMedica Toledo Hospital at 419-291-2072.

Medicare, Medicaid and most major health plans cover the cost of medically necessary hyperbaric oxygen treatment. Talk to your health plan about coverage details. If you have concerns about paying for this therapy, you may be able to get financial assistance.