Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy may be used to treat a variety of
conditions and disorders. At Swedish Hospital, they are often used to assist patients in need of specialized medicine to close difficult or chronic wounds.
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is covered by most major insurances (including Medicare) for many conditions. For more information, please call
773-989-6202.
What is Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy?
Hyperbaric chambers rose to prominence as an effective way to treat decompression sickness among scuba divers who surface too quickly. Since then, oxygen-rich blood has been proven to be an effective and natural means to
treat a variety of illnesses and conditions, including:
-
Wound Care
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy may be used to help wounds heal more quickly by providing oxygen-rich blood to the wound site—a necessary and important component in healing. Our Wound Care and Limb Preservation Center uses a multidisciplinary approach to wound care, which may include hyperbaric medicine. Conditions treated may include non-healing diabetic foot wounds, osteo radiation necrosis, acute traumatic vascular injuries, soft tissue radiation necrosis and crush injuries.
-
Treatment for Infections
Infections thrive in low-oxygen environments. Creating an oxygen-rich environment using a hyperbaric chamber can assist the human body in better fighting infection.
-
Countering Cancer Treatment Side Effects
Cancer treatments such as radiation may cause some unpleasant side effects, some of which may be reduced or eliminated using hyperbaric oxygen therapy.
-
Treatment for Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy may be used to treat carbon monoxide poisoning by creating a higher concentration of pure oxygen in the body.
Additional conditions treated include gas gangrene and acute air gas embolism.
Conditions Approved by Insurance
- Acute carbon monoxide intoxication
- Decompression illness
- Gas Embolus
- Gas gangrene
- Acute traumatic peripheral ischemia
- Crush injuries and suturing of several limbs
- Progressive necrotizing infections including necrotizing fasciitis
- Acute peripheral arterial insufficiency
- Preparation and preservation of compromised skin grafts and flaps
- Chronic refractory osteomyelitis unresponsive to convention medical and surgical management
- Osteoradionecrosis as an adjunct to conventional treatment
- Cyanide poisoning
- Actinomycosis, only as an adjunct to conventional treatment when the disease process is refractory to antibiotics and conservative treatment
- Diabetic wounds of the lower extremities in patients who meet criteria
Contact Us
To learn more about hyperbaric medicine at Swedish Hospital, please call
773-989-6202.
