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Increased oxygen helps promote healing

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) drastically increases the oxygen in the tissues of the body. HBOT is traditionally known for treating patients who have suffered a diving injury. Now, with state-of-the-art equipment, HBOT is also used to help heal burn wounds and recover from diabetes complications or radiation treatment. Our expertly trained technicians also work with plastic surgery and emergency medicine patients. By giving the body doses of highly oxygenated air, patients have another tool to help in their recovery. HBOT supplements other forms of treatment such as surgery, antibiotics and wound care, to promote an entire healing process.

When in the Hyperbaric Chamber, the amount of oxygen patients breath is increased to 100%, so patients are taking in pure oxygen. At the same time, the pressure surrounding the patient’s body is slowly increased. HBOT allows the blood to carry more oxygen to the tissues, promoting new tissue and blood vessel growth and assisting in the healing process by permitting skin grafting or spontaneous healing. Additionally, a high level of oxygen in the blood helps to fight infections caused by a variety of bacteria, some of which live only in the absence of oxygen. It also enables white blood cells to destroy many kinds of bacteria more efficiently. The Hyperbaric Oxygen continues UMC’s commitment to ensuring our patients are getting the best care possible through our cutting-edge technology.

The Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society's Committee on Hyperbaric Oxygen has approved the use of HBOT as primary or additional treatment for the following conditions:

• Delayed Radiation Injury (Soft Tissue and Bony Necrosis)


• Chronic Diabetic Ulcer (Wagner’s Grade 3 or higher)


• Osteomyelitis (Chronic and Refractory)


• Necrotizing Soft Tissue Infections


• Decompression Sickness


• Acute Carbon Monoxide Poisoning


• Exceptional Blood Loss (Anemia)


• Intracranial Abscess


• Crush Injury, Compartment Syndrome, and other Acute Traumatic Ischemias


• Clostridial Myositis and Myonecrosis (Gas Gangrene)


• Air or Gas Embolism


• Skin Grafts & Flaps (Compromised)