How is HBOT applied?

The patient is placed in a specialized chamber and the pressure surrounding the patient is increased by allowing the oxygen to flow into the sealed chamber. Through the normal physiology of respiratory gas exchange, via the pulmonary system, increased levels of oxygen circulate as perfusion is improved via the increased atmospheric pressure.

All patients are also closely monitored by a specially trained and skilled veterinary staff member throughout their HBOT session.

What is the overall goal?

The goal of HBOT is to increase the amount of oxygen that is delivered to diseased, infected, vascularly compromised, inflamed and/or damaged tissues to help them heal; often at an accelerated rate compared to without adjunctive HBO. As the concentration of oxygen is increased in the blood and plasma, under pressure we also increase the distance to which it diffuses into the tissues.

Are there risks?

As with any drug/medication, there is the potential for rare side effects to occur during a HBO treatment. For example, patients may experience oxygen toxicity or barotrauma. However, the possibility of these potential risks are minimized by proper dosing, frequency, duration of pressure within a hyper oxygenated environment, as well as following proper compression and decompression procedures. Individual patients are evaluated and screened prior to undergoing HBO, and a specific protocol is created by the HBO team.

What are the indications?

There are many indications for this treatment modality. In general, any condition or disease in which there is an inflammatory component, vascular compromise, or damage/trauma to tissue, etc., would likely benefit from this therapy. The list below is by no means complete, rather it offers a general guide for qualifying conditions. As research continues, there is a growing number of locations available offering this treatment in veterinary medicine.