[Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBO): current standing]

For more than thirty years hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBO) has been an important and ultimate therapeutic tool in special indications. Hyperbaric oxygen improves tissue oxygenation, stimulates important mechanisms in wound healing and exerts beneficial effects on other biochemical and cellular processes. The properties of hyperbaric oxygen have built the rationale for its use as therapy of choice in patients with severe carbon monoxide poisoning, decompression sickness and arterial gas embolism, and as adjunctive therapy for the treatment of osteoradionecrosis, necrotizing fasciitis and compromised skin grafts and flaps. The efficacy of adjunctive hyperbaric oxygen in the treatment of lower extremity problem wounds in diabetic patients seems to be proven. There is little scientific support for other uses of hyperbaric oxygen and its therapeutical benefit should be further investigated. When used according to standard protocols hyperbaric oxygen treatment is a safe therapy with little adverse effects.