【Medical Q&A】What is hyperbaric oxygen therapy?

Planner: Chinese Medical Association

Reviewer: Yu Qiuhong, Chief Physician, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is a treatment that involves inhaling oxygen under a high pressure environment exceeding one atmosphere. The pressure of hyperbaric oxygen therapy should generally be ≥1.4ATA (absolute atmospheric pressure). Clinically, the treatment pressure is 1.5~3.0ATA, and 2.0ATA is commonly used, depending on the treatment population and treatment purpose, which is equivalent to the atmospheric pressure at a depth of 10 meters underwater. Each treatment lasts 60 to 120 minutes, and requires a process of increasing pressure, stabilizing oxygen inhalation, and reducing pressure.

The sealed container used for hyperbaric oxygen therapy is called a hyperbaric oxygen chamber. According to the definition of "Technical Supervision Regulations on Safety of Oxygen Chambers" (TSG24-2015), a hyperbaric oxygen chamber refers to a manned pressure vessel that uses breathable gases such as air, oxygen or a mixed gas (oxygen and other breathable gases configured in proportion) as the pressure medium, and is used for treatment and adaptability training of personnel in the chamber.

In a hyperbaric oxygen chamber, patients can inhale pure oxygen through masks, helmets, and oxygen pipes in the chamber. In this process, not only can the oxygen content in the blood be increased, but the oxygen can also be quickly diffused to various parts of the body, especially those places where blood circulation is poor due to injury, disease, or aging. Therefore, hyperbaric oxygen therapy is widely used to treat various health problems caused by lack of oxygen, such as carbon monoxide poisoning, trauma and burns, complications of diabetes, infections and chronic wounds, rehabilitation treatment of neurological diseases, etc.