The Role of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy for the Treatment of Wounds

Hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) is a Medicare-approved treatment for a variety of diagnoses including chronic nonhealing wounds and radiation necrosis. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) uses high pressures to saturate hemoglobin and dissolve oxygen into blood plasma to create a hyperoxemic environment to nourish and reverse local tissue injury caused by ischemia and hypoxemia. HBOT is expensive and not without risk; therefore, the underlying etiology for the presenting diagnosis must be adequately treated before starting HBO as an adjunct therapy to get maximum benefit.