Below is a list of the approved conditions for hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT). While all are important for patients, the first two indications are the most commonly treated in hospitals around the country:
Diabetic Foot Wounds
One of the most common complications of diabetes is diminished healing of foot wounds. Injured tissues that will not heal on their own require advanced wound care, and in many cases hyperbaric oxygen. HBOT enhances the growth of new blood vessels and improves oxygen supply to areas weakened by diabetes. Your doctor and the wound care specialists work together to put the best treatment plan into action.
Delayed Radiation Injury from Cancer Treatments
Patients who had radiation treatments are at risk of developing breakdown of the tissues in the irradiated areas, in bones (like the mandible) as well as soft tissues (especially in bladder and bowel). This occurs because of the progressive injury to the small blood vessels. Symptoms usually develop slowly over months or even years. HBOT boosts the regrowth of blood vessels in the affected areas, which enhances healing and restores tissue health.
Indications Generally Reimbursed by Insurances:
(please consult with your physician team)
- Non healing wound, especially in diabetics
- Delayed tissue injury from cancer radiation
- Skin grafts and flaps that don’t heal on their own
- Bone infection (osteomyelitis) that does not respond to antibiotics
- Carbon monoxide poisoning (by itself or with cyanide poisoning)
- Air or gas embolism
- Gas gangrene
- Crush injury
- Necrotizing soft tissue infections
- Decompression illness