Indications for Treatment
The use of increased levels of oxygen combined with increased atmospheric pressure has been recognized by mainstream medicine for use in fourteen conditions. At first glance these conditions are unrelated, yet they have two common attributes at some level – Hypoxia and Inflammation.
Accepted Indications include:
Acute carbon monoxide poisoning
Relieve hypoxia, hasten elimination of CO antagonize brain lipid peroxidation
Exceptional blood loss anemia
Increase physically dissolved oxygen; treat hypoxia; support marginally perfused tissue
Acute thermal burns
Relieve hypoxia; decrease fluid losses; limit burn wound extension and conversion; treat edema; promote wound closure
Cerebral arterial gas embolism
Overcome free gas volume; relieve hypoxia; antagonize leukocyte mediated ischemic- reperfusion injury
Chronic refractory osteomyelitis
Augment host antimicrobial defenses; induce angiogenesis; potentiate leukocytic superoxide and peroxide production; relieve hypoxia; augment antibiotic therapy; extend post antibiotic effect; augment osteoclast activity
Clostridial myonecrosis (gas gangrene)
Reduce size of gaseous bullae; inactivate clostridial alpha toxin; inhibit alpha toxin production; induce bacteriostasis; potentiate leukocytic superoxide and peroxide production.
Compromised skin flaps and grafts
Support perfused/oxygenated tissue; antagonize ischemic-reperfusion injury; accelerate angiogenesis
Crush injury/ acute ischemia
Provide interim tissue oxygenation in relative states of ischemia; reduce edema; reduce compartment pressures; antagonize ischemic-reperfusion injury; augment limb salvage
Decompression Sickness
Overcome free gas volume-induced ischemia relieve hypoxia; hasten elimination of offending inert gas; treat edema
Late radiation tissue injury
Re-establish wound oxygen gradients; relieve hypoxia; induce angiogenesis; prepare for definitive coverage
Late radiation tissue injury prophlaxis
Re-establish wound oxygen gradients; induce angiogenesis prior to surgical wounding
Necrotizing soft tissue infections (fasciitis and cellutis)
Induce bacteriostasis of anaerobes; potentiate leukocytic superoxide and peroxide production relieve hypoxia; more closely demarcate potentially viable tissue
Non-healing hypoxic wounds
Re-establish wound oxygen gradients;relieve hypoxia;reduce edema; induce angiogenesis; correct diabetic induced leukocytic changes; prepare for definitive coverage
Sudden Hearing loss/Tinnitis
Relieve Hypoxia
Additional indications having compromised tissue oxygen levels and inflammation at some level have been shown to respond hyperbaric therapy:
- Trauma recovery- Combat blast overpressure exposure
- Pancreatitis
- Strokes
- Complement therapeutic approaches to cancer
- Spinal trauma
- Head trauma/ concussion
- Pre- and postoperative conditioning
- Diabetic vasculopathy/neuropathy
- Certain immune-mediated anemias
- Chronic bone/bone marrow disorders (osteomyelitis)
- Lyme Disease and other Tick borne disorders
- Dermatological disorders
- Complications from Plastic Surgery Procedures
- Scar reduction
- Degenerative disorders
- Radiation therapy – adjunct treatment
- Endocrine disorders
- Neonatal hypoxia
- Transplant support