Hyperbaric Medicine
Hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) chambers work by surrounding the patient with 100 percent oxygen at higher than normal atmospheric pressure in sessions, or dives, that last from 90 minutes to two hours. This increases the amount of oxygen in the patient’s blood allowing the wounds to heal from the inside out. It is a painless, proven way to help the body heal.
The HBO chambers resemble a reclining bed encased in a clear acrylic shell nearly a yard in diameter. Patients can listen to music or watch movies on televisions and VCR/DVD players mounted above the chamber. Patients also remain in constant contact with those outside the chamber through an intercom and private handset. The only physical sensation resulting from the treatment is a slight pressure on the eardrum, like that felt when a plane lands, as the air in the chamber is compressed.
To make an appointment with the Wound Care Center or to find out if you're a candidate for hyperbaric oxygen therapy, talk to a physician.