How does a hyperbaric chamber work?

The treatment of diseases and injuries using a hyperbaric chamber is becoming increasingly popular. This is due to the very promising treatment outcomes being achieved. How exactly does this equipment work and what is it used for?

What is a hyperbaric chamber?

A hyperbaric chamber is used for hyperbaric oxygen therapy. This method involves administering a high-concentration oxygen-air mixture to the patient under increased pressure. Simply put, the patient receives a dose of very pure oxygen under pressure. The purpose of this process is to stimulate cell activity for growth and regeneration. It is well-suited for treating healing wounds, as well as in life-threatening situations such as carbon monoxide poisoning or acute soft tissue ischemia.

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy

The patient undergoing the procedure first enters a tightly sealed chamber, where the pressure is gradually increased over time. Once the target pressure is reached, it is maintained, and before the session ends, it returns to atmospheric pressure levels. The entire session typically lasts from 45 to 90 minutes. Oxygen therapy in a hyperbaric chamber has been described in detail on the website https://komorahiperbaryczna.slupsk.pl/leczenie-tlenem-na-czym-polega-tlenoterapia/, where it is described how a patient should prepare for this type of treatment. In the hyperbaric chamber, the patient can only be dressed in underwear, tracksuit or pajamas. Clothes must be made entirely of cotton. Other accessories must be left in front of the chamber. In the chamber, the patient can engage in reading, for example, as the pressure is increased slowly, causing only slight discomfort in the ears. During the session, the patient has visual and audio contact with the personnel operating the chamber. Oxygen therapy takes place in three phases. The first involves filling the chamber with compressed air to a level 2.5 times that of the atmosphere. People inside the chamber must equalize ear pressure during this phase by following the instructions of the staff. The second phase is to stay under increased pressure. During this time, for about an hour intermittently, patients breathe pure oxygen. Everything is done in special breathing systems. The third phase is decompression, that is, the gradual reduction of pressure in the chamber to the level of that atmospheric. The effect of being in a hyperbaric chamber is to increase the amount of oxygen in the body, especially in hypoxic tissues and organs. Oxygen therapy helps eliminate carbon monoxide from the body and has a bactericidal effect.

Indications

Hyperbaric chamber treatments can be used for children and adults. They help treat conditions such as carbon monoxide poisoning, soft tissue ischemia, thermal burns, swelling, fungal infections, wounds, sudden hearing loss, skin diseases, and radiation tissue damage. Initially, such therapy was used by divers. Today, it is widely used by many doctors due to the very good results achieved with sessions in such a chamber.

Contraindications

There are several contraindications that prevent the use of a hyperbaric chamber. These include: epilepsy, pregnancy, fever, upper respiratory tract infection, asthma, cataracts, pacemaker, recent chest or ear surgery, emphysema, pulmonary hemorrhage and edema, and sinusitis.