Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) is a clinical treatment where the patient breathes 100% oxygen intermittently while enclosed in a hyperbaric oxygen chamber at a pressure greater than one atmosphere. HBOT has been proven effective for many medical conditions, and as a result the Undersea and Hyperbaric Medicine Society, one of the premier research institutes, has approved it to treat the following indications:

1. Air or Gas Embolism
2. Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Complicated by Cyanide Poisoning
3. Clostridal Myositis and Myonecrosis (Gas Gangrene)
4. Crush Injury, Compartment Syndrome, and other Acute Traumatic Ischemias
5. Decompression Sickness
6. Enhancement of Healing in Selected Problem Wounds
7. Exceptional Blood Loss (Anemia)
8. Necrotizing Soft Tissue Infections
9. Refractory Osteomyelitis
10. Delayed Radiation Injury (Soft Tissue and Bony Necrosis)
11. Compromised Skin Grafts & Flaps
12. Thermal Burns
13. Intracranial Abscess

In addition, Medicare coverage determinations will reimburse in the U.S. for the following conditions:

* Patient has type I or type II diabetes and has a lower extremity wound that is due to diabetes;
* Patient has a wound classified as Wagner grade III or higher; and
* Patient has failed an adequate course of standard wound therapy.

How HBO Works:

Hyperbaric medicine is effective for the above indications and many more because it enables five basic actions: hyper oxygenation of the body, the mechanical effects of increased pressure, the mass action of gasses, and vasoconstriction and bacteriostasis.

Monoplace chambers are National Fire Protection Association (N.F.P.A) Class B devices that can be pressurized up to 3 ATA with 100% oxygen.  Monoplace, or single person, chambers are the most widely used for HBOT.