Conditions

For several decades hyperbaric medicine has been established throughout the world.

Simply, Hyperbaric Oxygen is proven in the correcting of ischemia and hypoxia caused by peripheral vascular disease along with reducing swelling and inflammation and fighting infection and assisting is speeding up wound healing. (Please see our section About HBOT).

Experience derived from many years of clinical trials and practical application have prompted major developments in the science. Advancements in nuclear imaging and diagnostic techniques are responsible for the promotion of cost effective hyperbaric medicine.

What are the accepted conditions that are treated with hyperbaric Oxygen therapy?

Whilst most international medical authorities publish their own lists, USA based Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society (UHMS) defines the world-wide accepted indications reimbursable by insurance companies for HBOT as:

• Air/ Gas Embolism
• Carbon Monoxide Poisoning and Smoke Inhalation
• Decompression Sickness
• Adjunct Hyperbaric Oxygen in Intracranial Abscess
• Gas Gangrene
• Crush Injuries & Compartment Syndrome
• Necrotizing Fasciitis Soft Tissue Infection
• Enhanced Healing of Selected Wounds
• Severe Anaemia & Exceptional Blood Loss
• Chronic Osteomyelitis
• Radiation Tissue Damage
• Compromised Skin Grafts and Flaps
• Acute Thermal Burn Injury
• Idiopathic Sudden Senorineural Hearing Loss

In the England funded by the Health Services the following elective indications are currently treated with hyperbaric oxygen treatment are:

Mandibular osteoradionecrosis, prevention of osteoradionecrosis, soft tissue radionecrosis, necrotising soft tissue infections, failing flaps and grafts and other problem wounds as well as the others listed above.

The Isle of Man Department of Health and Social Care has commissioned our charity for the provision Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy for only three conditions on an emergency basis only.

• Decompression Sickness
• Air/Gas Embolism
• Acute Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

What are some of the adjunctive indications for hyperbaric oxygen?

The other routine treatments include those on the approved list are undertaken on a self help basis. Charitable donations make this possible and go towards the cost of treatments undertaken here on the Island:

Hyperbaric oxygen is used to treat all conditions which benefit from increased tissue oxygen availability, as well as infections where it can be used for its antibiotic properties as a therapy and in conjunction with other medication. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is performed in many instances that are life and /or limb threatening although are considered experimental.