FAQ-3

3) How does HBOT work?

There are several beneficial mechanisms associated with intermittent exposure to hyperbaric oxygen, either alone or in combination with other medical and surgical procedures:

a) Hyperoxygenation brings oxygen immediately to tissue where there is compromised blood flow, because the elevated pressure within the hyperbaric chamber results in a 10-15 fold increase in plasma oxygen concentration. The increased oxygen helps tissue that has been deprived of oxygen meet the increased metabolic needs that are necessary during healing.

b) Neovascularization & epithelialization is a delayed benefit of hyperbaric oxygen exposure that includes the new formation of collagen, and capillary angiogenesis (the new development of blood vessels) in areas that were resistant to neovascularization, such as radiation damaged tissue, osteomyelitis and chronic ulcerations in soft tissue. This can be induced in both acute and chronic injuries. Regenerating skin cells also function more effectively in a high-oxygen environment.

c) Anitmicrobial Activity & Immune Response has been shown to be enhanced on many different levels, and HBOT can even inhibit or inactivate the toxins of certain bacteria. Studies have shown that local tissue resistance to infection is directly related to the level of oxygen found in the tissue. More important, however, HBOT enhances the ability of white blood cells to trap and kill invading organisms, and acts synergistically with antibiotics. Oxygen is converted within the white blood cell (PMN) into toxic substances (superoxides, peroxides, and hydroxyl radicals) that are lethal to bacteria. In other words, the extra oxygen not only helps wounds to heal it helps the body fight infection.

d) Direct Pressure exerted by HBOT reduces the volume of intravascular or other free gas trapped in the body in places it does not belong. Tens of thousands of cases of air embolism happen just in the USA every year. This can happen unintentionally during cardiac surgery, vascular surgery, pelvic surgery, Cesarean section, and neurosurgical operations. It can also happen with diagnostic procedures such as angiography. Commonly associated with divers, cerebral arterial gas embolism is a frequent (iatrogenic) event in modern medicine, and results in significant morbidity and mortality.

e) Vasoconstriction induced by the hyperoxia of HBOT is helpful in managing injured extremities, skin grafts and burns by reducing edema (fluid build up) within the tissues in question. The net effect is decreased tissue inflammation without hypoxia (oxygen deprivation).

f) Attenuation of Reperfusion Injury: as blood flow comes back into injured tissue, white blood cells can inappropriately activate causing further damage, but HBOT prevents such activation. Specifically, HBOT inhibits white blood cell adherence on postcapillary venules which limits the injury of reperfusion.

g) Maintaining High-Energy Phosphate Bonds. Without oxygen, the levels of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) fall and lactic acid levels increase. ATP is necessary for ion and molecular transport across cell membranes and maintenance of cellular viability. By decreasing tissue lactic acid levels and helping to maintain ATP levels, HBOT helps prevent damaged to injured tissue and ischemic wounds.

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