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.