Mild and Traditional Hyperbaric Oxygenation: Clinical Uses and Safety Considerations

Unlike traditional hyperbaric oxygen treatment, which involves the inhalation of 100% oxygen by individuals enclosed in a pressurized treatment chamber at greater than sea level, mild hyperbaric oxygen treatment is performed in a pressurized chamber using shallower treatment depths and lower oxygen concentrations.

This narrative review examines the physiological differences between mild and traditional hyperbaric oxygen treatment, the clinical uses of mild hyperbaric oxygen treatment, and the safety considerations of both treatment modalities.

The systemic hyperoxia induced by traditional hyperbaric oxygen treatment promotes wound healing but is associated with adverse events, including oxygen free radical damage. Mild hyperbaric oxygen treatment may benefit peripheral microcirculation, parasympathetic activity, and metabolism but has not been studied extensively as a wound treatment modality. Due to the lower oxygen concentrations used in mild hyperbaric oxygen treatment, the risk of oxidative damage may be lower with this treatment than with traditional hyperbaric oxygenation. However, both mild and traditional hyperbaric oxygenation are associated with potentially life-threatening adverse events, including chamber explosion and/or fire. Careful adherence to safety standards may reduce the occurrence risk of such incidents, but compliance with those standards is not universally mandated and may vary among facilities.

Traditional and mild hyperbaric oxygen treatment differ in physiology and clinical uses. Both treatments are associated with significant risks, but adherence to safety standards may reduce the incidence of adverse events and optimize patient care.