What is hyperbaric
oxygen therapy?
Hyperbaric Oxygen
Therapy is a treatment
option for diabetic
patients with a foot
ulcer, where the patient
inhales 100% oxygen in a
pressurized chamber.
This method helps the
body increase the oxygen
levels in the blood. It
also exposes the
affected tissues to more
oxygen than would
otherwise be present,
thus allowing for
enhanced healing.
How
does hyperbaric oxygen
therapy work?
Hyperbaric oxygen
therapy increases the
saturation of oxygen in
the blood, due to the
enhancement of
atmospheric pressure.
Increased oxygen can
promote white blood cell
activity, encourage
tissue development and
induce capillary growth.
This method can be
beneficial for a variety
of conditions, but is
proving exceptionally
promising in the
treatment of diabetic
foot ulcers.
What health issues can
benefit from hyperbaric
chamber treatments?
While diabetic foot
ulcers are the primary
focus of this therapy,
it is not the only
condition that can
benefit from hyperbaric
chamber treatments.
Hyperbaric chambers can
be used to treat cyanide
or carbon monoxide
poisoning, decompression
sickness, embolisms,
compartment syndrome and
thermal burns. These are
only a short list of the
possible uses for this
technology.
Is
this treatment painful
and how much
participation is
required of the patient?
No!
This treatment is not
painful to the patient.
A small degree of
discomfort may be
experienced from the
increased pressure in
the patients’ ears and
sinuses. This feeling is
similar to that
experienced during a
takeoff or landing in an
aircraft. The patient
can relieve the pressure
through yawning or other
techniques. This method
is actually relaxing.
The patient can nap,
watch an externally mounted TV or DVD player, or listen to music thru the external sound connector. There may be brief
moments of interruption
during periodic “air
breaks,” but otherwise
it is a very peaceful,
healing experience. The
patient is required to
arrive for the
appointment without
perfumes, colognes or
hair products. Many hyperbaric centers offer comfortable 100% cotton garments and booties to enhance the comfort of the treatment.
How many treatments are
necessary?
The amount of treatments
will vary, according to the
patient and the condition
requiring treatment. For
diabetic foot ulcers, the
course of treatment can vary
from approximately 20 to 40,
1 to 2 hour sessions,
depending on the progress of
the wound’s healing.
Are there any side effects?
Hyperbaric chamber treatment
is extremely safe and side
effects are rare. One in
10,000 people may incur
oxygen toxicity. Others may
experience vision changes or
a dry cough, which usually
clear up after treatment is
completed. If a patient
suffers from claustrophobia,
he/she may need to be
educated on relaxation
techniques, due to the
enclosed space. Otherwise,
hyperbaric chamber treatment
is one of the safest medical
treatments available today.
How successful is hyperbaric
oxygen treatment in treating
diabetic foot ulcers?
Without successful
treatment, diabetic foot
ulcers can eventually lead
to amputation. 15% of
diabetics will suffer foot
ulcers at some point in
their disease, and 80% of
diabetes related amputations
begin with these hard to
heal ulcers. Traditional
treatments are more
successful when used in
conjunction with hyperbaric
chamber treatment. The
increase in success is due
to the fact that the tissues
around the ulcer are exposed
to increased oxygen and
enhanced vascular healing.
This technology does not
replace the need for proper
wound care and it should be
utilized for patients who
are not healing after one
month of incurring the
ulcer.
Will these treatments be
covered by insurance?
Medicare and private
insurance generally cover
the cost for hyperbaric
oxygen chamber treatment in
cases of diabetic foot
ulcers, decompression
sickness, cyanide or carbon
monoxide poisoning and
embolisms. When used for non
conventional conditions, or
experimentally, it will need
to be approved for payment
prior to treatment.
Medicare requires that a
physician be present
throughout the entire
treatment process.
Are hyperbaric chambers
expensive to buy and are
they profitable?
Hyperbaric chambers require
a reasonable investment;
however, when you purchase
from a reputable provider,
the parts and maintenance
are relatively inexpensive.
This machine can be very
profitable, even for a
single physician charging
average prices for each
treatment. Most importantly,
these treatments are
priceless for the diabetic
patients suffering from foot
ulcers that won’t heal since
it may well prevent
amputation.
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