What is Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy?
- April 2, 2024
- Written by : Rebecca LaMarca, MSN, APN-BC, CNS
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) is a treatment that involves breathing pure oxygen under an increased atmospheric pressure. The normal oxygen rate of the air we breathe is about 21%.
HBOT grew in popularity to treat long COVID symptoms, despite being somewhat controversial1 for that use case. While HBOT has been approved by the FDA for many medical conditions,2 including anemia and carbon monoxide poisoning, it still hasn’t been cleared as a treatment for COVID-19.
It’s best known as a treatment for scuba and deep-sea divers who are dealing with decompression sickness from rapidly changing air pressure.
How does hyperbaric oxygen therapy work?
According to the Mayo Clinic,3 the air in a hyperbaric oxygen chamber — which is typically a tube designed to hold one person, though some spaces are built to fit more than one person — is double or triple that of normal air pressure. The lungs are able to gather more air than usual because of the increased air pressure, which promotes healing and helps fight certain infections.
What is hyperbaric oxygen therapy used for?
The FDA has cleared HBOT as a treatment for the following conditions, as of July 2021:
- Air and gas bubbles in blood vessels
- Severe anemia
- Severe burns
- Carbon monoxide poisoning
- Crush injury
- Decompression sickness from diving
- Gas gangrene
- Hearing loss
- Severe skin/bone infection
- Radiation injury
- Skin graft flap at risk of tissue death
- Vision loss
- Nonhealing wounds
How long do the effects of hyperbaric oxygen therapy last?
It typically takes a few sessions to start seeing the benefits of hyperbaric oxygen therapy. For the effects to last, it’s important to continue the recommended course of treatment prescribed by your healthcare provider. The length of the effects may depend on the condition that’s being treated.
“With repeated treatments, the temporary extra high oxygen levels encourage normal tissue oxygen levels, even after the therapy is completed,” according to the Mayo Clinic.
How often should you do hyperbaric oxygen therapy?
In order to get lasting benefits from hyperbaric oxygen treatment, most patients need more than one session, but it ultimately depends on your medical condition. For something like carbon monoxide poison, you may need as little as three visits. But for wounds that won’t heal, it might take upwards of 40 visits.
The long COVID treatments at Aviv range from 40 to 60 two-hour treatments, five times a week over the course of eight to 12 weeks, according to CNBC.
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy cost
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy may be covered by Medicare Part B5 depending on your medical condition if you get the treatment in a one-person unit.
If cost isn’t an object, you can buy a hyperbaric oxygen chamber of your own ranging from about $8,000 to $100,000, depending on the pressure, dimensions and capacity.
REFERENCES
Constantino, A. K. (2023, April 20). A new long Covid treatment shows promise, but insurance won’t cover it and some doctors are skeptical: Here’s why. CNBC. https://www.cnbc.com/2023/04/20/treating-long-covid-hyperbaric-oxygen-therapy-shows-promise-concerns.html
Office of the Commissioner. (2021, July 26). Hyperbaric oxygen therapy: Get the facts. U.S. Food And Drug Administration. https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/hyperbaric-oxygen-therapy-get-facts
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy – Mayo Clinic. (2023, December 2). https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/hyperbaric-oxygen-therapy/about/pac-20394380
How much does a hyperbaric oxygen therapy visit cost near me? – MDSave. (n.d.). https://www.mdsave.com/procedures/hyperbaric-oxygen-therapy-visit/d58af5c5
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy. (n.d.). Medicare. https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/hyperbaric-oxygen-therapy
Share 
Tweet 
Share 
Email 
