Indications & Precautions

Indications

The Hyperbaric Oxygen Committee of the Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society (UHMS) has approved the following conditions as indications for HBOT:

Emergent Indications

  • Acute Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
  • Acute Cyanide Poisoning
  • Smoke Inhalation
  • Decompression Illness
  • Air or Gas Embolism
  • Gas Gangrene
  • Necrotizing Fasciitis
  • Crush Injury
  • Exceptional Blood Loss

 Routine Indications

  • Problem/Compromised Wounds
  • Arterial Insufficiency
  • Osteomyelitis
  • Soft Tissue Radionecrosis
  • Osteoradionecrosis
  • Compromised Flaps and Grafts
  • Burns
  • Intracranial Abscess

In addition to these approved indications, studies and clinical experience have suggested that HBOT may be beneficial in other selected conditions:

Experimental Indications

  • Acute Retinal Artery Occlusion
  • Lyme's Disease
  • Sickle Cell Disease
  • Priapism
  • Anoxic Brain Injury
  • Myocardial Infarction
  • Spinal Cord Injury
  • Brain Infarction
  • Brown Recluse Spider Bite
  • Pyoderma Gangrenosum
  • Fracture Healing and Bone Grafting

Precautions

The therapy is essentially painless.  It is common for patients to experience pressure changes within their middle ears during compression.  The attending staff will assist the patient to adjust to these changes.  Patients with colds or upper respiratory infections may be predisposed to middle ear or sinus barotrauma and should not undergo therapy until the condition fully abates, unless emergency or urgent hyperbaric oxygen therapy is indicated. 

Smoking and hyperbaric oxygen therapy is clinically incompatible.  All patients are urged to stop smoking during the period of their therapy.  If this is not possible, therapy may have to be discontinued.

The treatment protocols have been carefully designed to minimize pulmonary and central nervous system oxygen toxicity.  Certain drugs and other medications may produce unwanted side effects and should be avoided.  The hyperbaric physician will provide specific information on drugs and medications under question.  Rigorous safeguards are followed to prevent complications.  Some patients undergoing prolonged periods of daily hyperbaric oxygen treatment may experience visual acuity changes that are usually reversible.