Hyperbaric Oxygen Treatments Reviews

BACKGROUND: Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) has been proposed as an adjunct to standard methods of care for diabetic foot ulcers (DFU). Its use may decrease the risk of infection and lower extremity amputations (LEAs). As part of a Canadian assessment, we estimated the cost-effectiveness and budget impact of HBOT in this application. METHODS: We developed a decision model comparing adjunctive HBOT with standard care alone. The population was a 65-year-old cohort with DFU. The time horizon was 12 years taken from a Ministry of Health perspective. The health states were a healed wound with or without a minor LEA, an unhealed wound with no related surgery, and a major LEA. Efficacy data were based on outcomes reported in studies included in a literature review. Cost and capacity needs for treating DFU patients in Canada were estimated using prevalence data from the literature, and cost and utilization data from government records. RESULTS: The 12-year cost for patients receiving HBOT was CND$40,695 compared with CND$49,786 for standard care alone. Outcomes were 3.64 quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) for those receiving HBOT and 3.01 QALYs for controls. Estimated cost to treat all prevalent DFU cases in Canada was CND$14.4-19.7 million/year over 4 years. If seven-person HBOT chambers were used, a further nineteen to thirty-five machines would be required nationally. CONCLUSIONS: Adjunctive HBOT for DFU is cost-effective compared with standard care. Additional HBOT capacity would be needed if it were to be adopted as the standard of care throughout Canada.

There is strong scientific evidence showing HBOT is an effective treatment for decompression sickness, arterial gas embolism (bubbles of air in the blood vessels), and severe carbon monoxide poisoning. It may also be useful as an additional method for the prevention and treatment of osteoradionecrosis (bone damage caused by radiation therapy), clostridial myonecrosis (a life-threatening bacterial infection that invades the muscle), and for helping skin graft and flap healing. Other evidence suggests HBOT may be helpful for less severe carbon monoxide poisoning; radiation-induced soft-tissue injury; anemia due to severe blood loss (when transfusions are not an option); crushing injuries; poor wound healing; and osteomyelitis (chronic bone inflammation) that does not respond to standard treatment. There is conflicting evidence about whether HBOT is helpful in treating burns and fast-spreading infections of the skin and underlying tissues.

The lack of randomized clinical studies makes it hard to judge the value of HBOT for many of its claims. Available scientific evidence does not support claims that HBOT stops the growth of cancer cells, destroys germs, improves allergy symptoms, or helps patients who have chronic fatigue syndrome, arthritis, multiple sclerosis, autism, stroke, cerebral palsy, senility, cirrhosis, or gastrointestinal ulcers.

Carefully controlled scientific studies are going on to find out whether HBOT may be helpful for lymphedema (swelling in arms or legs after surgery, which can happen after modified radical mastectomy or other treatments in which lymph nodes are removed or irradiated), diabetic ulcers, cluster headaches, heart attacks, and other conditions.

Are there any possible problems or complications?

HBOT is a relatively safe method for approved medical treatments. Complications can be reduced if pressures within the hyperbaric chamber remain below three times the normal atmospheric pressure and sessions last no longer than 2 hours.

Milder problems associated with HBOT include claustrophobia, fatigue, and headache. More serious complications include myopia (short-sightedness) that can last for weeks or months, sinus damage, ruptured middle ear, and lung damage. A complication called oxygen toxicity can result in seizures, fluid in the lungs, and even respiratory failure. Patients at high risk of oxygen toxicity may be given “air breaks” during which they breathe ordinary air rather than pure oxygen for short periods during treatment. People with severe congestive heart failure may have their symptoms worsened by HBOT. Patients with certain types of lung disease may be at higher risk of collapsed lung during HBOT. Pregnant women should be treated with HBOT only in serious situations where there are no other options. Hyperbaric oxygen chambers can also be a fire hazard: fires or explosions in hyperbaric chambers have caused about 80 deaths worldwide.

Relying on this treatment alone and delaying or avoiding conventional medical care for cancer may have serious health consequences.

Post Polio Syndrome

Post Polio Syndrome is the progressive deterioration of the nerves and the leg muscles which causes atrophy of the muscles and leads to the inability to walk unaided. It many times leads to loss of strength in the arms also. The person’s sense of balance usually becomes worse and they end up in a wheelchair. The progression of the polio type symptoms can happen 20 to 60 years after the original episode.

New research has discovered that the effects of Polio can be greatly reversed!

In the old days the medical establishment told patients with polio that a virus entered into the spinal fluid and attacked a nerve and killed the nerve. The patient was then told that the dead nerve would prevent the leg from further growth and development.

The truth is that the virus did enter into the spinal fluid but it did not kill the nerve. The nerve is still alive it is only dehydrated. The nerve can be rehydrated and brought back to life!

Here is how it happened.

There are two types of infection, bacterial and viral. Bacteria are larger and cannot get past the blood-brain barrier into the spinal fluid. Viruses are much smaller and are able to sneak past the blood-brain barrier into the spinal fluid and cause infections. Polio, meningitis, chicken pox, and the common cold are all viruses. The polio virus is able to get past the body’s immune system and into the spinal fluid and cause an inflammation of the meninges. This is where the term meningitis comes from. The spinal fluid is the same fluid that is removed when a spinal tap is done. There are three layers of the meninges. They are called the dura matter, pia matter, and the arachnoid matter. When a virus enters into the spinal fluid and causes inflammation then the meninges begins to swell. If the swelling or inflammation continues long enough then the meninges begin to touch and stick together like flypaper. This forms an adhesion. Adhesions form scar tissue which interferes with the proper flow of the spinal fluid. The fluid now has to go around the scar tissue. The area just the other side of the adhesion begins to dry out. That nerve will then become dehydrated. Wherever that nerve goes will now be affected. For instance if the dehydrated nerve goes to the stomach then ulcers can develop.  If the nerve goes to the pancreas then diabetes can develop.

Over time the scar tissue continues to contract and cause more problems. This can take 20 to 60 years. Post Polio Syndrome is really a symptom of progressive dehydration of the central nervous system followed by dehydration of the peripheral nerves.

This dehydration of the central nervous system can be reversed by stretching the spine, loosening up the adhesions in the meningeal system, and allowing the spinal fluid to flow properly again.

Advanced Central Nervous System Restoration will accomplish this in 24-48 treatments spaced out over a 6-12 month period with annual follow-ups.