About Hyperbaric Medicine |
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Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is a proven means of providing additional oxygen to a patient’s body tissues. This is accomplished by placing the patient in a chamber pressurized with compressed air and by having the patient breathe 100% oxygen during the treatment. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy can be used as the primary treatment or as an adjunct to other forms of treatment, such as surgery or antibiotics.
The strength of hyperbaric medicine stems from the power of 100 percent oxygen (normal air is 21 percent oxygen) delivered in a pressurized chamber in order to supersaturate the blood’s plasma. Injury, poisoning and disease can disrupt oxygen delivery, depriving tissues and cells of some of all or their required oxygen.
HyOx Medical Treatment Center administers hyperbaric oxygen therapy to enable healing and restore quality of life in patients with chronic conditions and injuries. HyOx takes life’s key ingredient — oxygen — and prescribes it as a drug with a personalized treatment plan for each patient. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy can:
- Accelerate healing of chronic wounds
- Decrease swelling of wounds and injuries
- Help fight infection and help certain antibiotics work more effectively
- Encourage growth of new blood vessels in oxygen deprived tissues
- Decrease the risk of complications prior to and following certain surgeries
- Speed the recovery of soft tissues and bones affected by radiation therapy
- Purge poisonous toxins such as carbon monoxide
- Reduce the incidence of amputation in diabetic patients with lower extremity wounds
Medical specialists in the military have used hyperbaric oxygen therapy for decades. Today, hyperbarics is widely recognized by the medical community as a highly effective rehabilitative therapy. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is covered under most major insurance plans, as well as Medicare, Tricare, Workers Compensation, State Merit, and other payment programs.
About Hyperbaric Chambers
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is delivered through treatment sessions, or “dives,” in a pressurized vessel known as a hyperbaric chamber. Regardless of their specific configuration, hyperbaric chambers are designed to safely create a pressurized environment (equivalent to 2-3 times the pressure of air at sea level) for the patient. Despite this similarity, there are differences among hyperbaric chambers. The major differences are in the manner in which oxygen is delivered to the patient and the “creature comforts” associated with each chamber.
Monoplace chambers treat one patient at a time. Patients typically must lie flat in one position during the treatment. Usually, the chamber is pressurized with 100% oxygen, which the patient breathes directly. In other instances, the chamber is pressurized with air and the patient breathes oxygen through a special facemask or hood.
Multi-patient chambers, like the one at HyOx, can accommodate two or more patients at the same time. Patients either sit in “airline-style” seats or lay on a stretcher if warranted by their condition. The chamber is pressurized with compressed air and patients breathe oxygen through specially-designed hoods, face masks or endotracheal tubes. Since they are not in a confined space, patients are free to stand, move about and stretch during the treatment.
HyOx operates Georgia’s largest multi-patient hyperbaric chamber. HyOx’s chamber is 31 feet in length and 9 feet in diameter. The chamber can comfortably accommodate 12 sitting patients plus attendants, who remain with patients throughout the treatment.
During treatment, patients can read, listen to CDs or watch videos on the chamber’s entertainment system. Medications, beverages, snacks and a private restroom are available at all times during treatment in HyOx’s multi-patient hyperbaric chamber.