Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy

An adequate amount of oxygen is necessary to keep all your body’s tissues healthy. Oxygen is delivered to body tissues by your blood. Injured body tissues often require more oxygen than normal to heal, and HBO therapy increases the amount of oxygen in your bloodstream. This increases the amount of oxygen delivered to your injured or damaged tissues, thereby increasing your body’s ability to heal.

We provide HBO treatments in pressurized chambers designed specifically for this purpose. During HBO treatment, you will breathe 100 percent oxygen at a pressure higher than sea level for designated intervals of time. Our clinicians are highly trained in HBO therapy and our section chief is board-certified in undersea and hyperbaric medicine.

Conditions treated with HBO

There are specific medical conditions for which HBO treatment is used. Some more commonly known conditions that may benefit from HBO include:

• Chronic infections of the bone and other infections that have not responded to conventional treatment
• Injuries to tissues such as the gastrointestinal tract, bladder and skin related to radiation therapy
• Compromised skin grafts or flaps
• Diabetic foot ulcers

Problems associated with radiation therapy or chemotherapy may also be candidates for HBO. These problems may occur for several months or several years after treatment is complete. Symptoms of these conditions include:

• Problems with your bowel or bladder
• Jawbone pain or ulceration
• Low healing wounds, particularly on the chest and neck
• Gynecologic problems and/or pain
• Chronic bone infections that have not resolved with traditional treatment

Talk with your clinician

It is important to understand these are only a few of the conditions that may be treated with HBO and that HBO can be useful in treating other conditions. We recommend you discuss your condition with your clinician to determine if you may benefit from treatment with HBO.

The standards of care for hyperbaric medicine are set by the nationally recognized Undersea Hyperbaric & Medical Society. These standards of care are the basis for the treatment protocols utilized by LVHN facilities for your care and treatment.