What is hyperbaric oxygen treatment?

Hyperbaric oxygen treatment is the breathing of 100 per cent oxygen at a pressure greater than one atmosphere, the pressure of air at sea level. In order to accomplish this treatment, a patient must be enclosed in a specially constructed chamber. Two types of chambers are commonly used to treat patients. The majority of hyperbaric oxygen treatments are administered in monoplace hyperbaric chambers holding a single patient and made of acrylic and filled with 100 per cent oxygen. Patients may also be treated in multiplace chambers that are typically larger, hold multiple patients, and are filled with air. Patients in multiplace chambers breathe 100 per cent oxygen by wearing a mask or hood during treatment. Hyperbaric oxygen treatment was originally used to treat divers suffering from the "bends" or decompression sickness but is now used to treatment patients with a variety of wound healing problems including certain chronic bone infections (osteomyelitis) and certain rapidly ...  more

Hyperbaric oxygen treatment is the breathing of 100 per cent oxygen at a pressure greater than one atmosphere, the pressure of air at sea level. In order to accomplish this treatment, a patient must be enclosed in a specially constructed chamber. Two types of chambers are commonly used to treat patients. The majority of hyperbaric oxygen treatments are administered in monoplace hyperbaric chambers holding a single patient and made of acrylic and filled with 100 per cent oxygen. Patients may also be treated in multiplace chambers that are typically larger, hold multiple patients, and are filled with air. Patients in multiplace chambers breathe 100 per cent oxygen by wearing a mask or hood during treatment. Hyperbaric oxygen treatment was originally used to treat divers suffering from the "bends" or decompression sickness but is now used to treat patients with a variety of wound healing problems including certain chronic bone infections (osteomyelitis) and certain rapidly progressive ...  more