Indications

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy frequently is an addition to treatments that may include antibiotics, surgery, nutritional support and other interventions recommended by primary-care physicians.

Indications for hyperbaric oxygen therapy are based on recommendations defined by the Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society (UHMS). The following indications are approved uses of hyperbaric oxygen therapy:

• Air or gas embolism
• Carbon monoxide poisoning
• Carbon monoxide poisoning complicated by cyanide poisoning
• Clostridial myositis and myonecrosis
• Crush injury, compartment syndrome and other acute traumatic ischemias
• Decompression sickness
• Arterial insufficiencies
• Central retinal artery occlusion
• Enhancement of healing in selected problem wounds
• Severe anemia
• Intracranial abscess
• Idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss
• Necrotizing soft tissue infections
• Osteomyelitis (refractory)
• Delayed radiation injury (soft tissue and bony necrosis)
• Compromised grafts and flaps
• Acute thermal burn injury

Multi-place vs. Mono-place

There are many advantages of a multi-place chamber over a single-person, mono-place chamber. Due to the larger size of the multi-place chamber, people with claustrophobia are better able to tolerate treatment than in a mono-place chamber. In addition, a member of the UCLA staff is with the patient inside the chamber at all times to assist the patient during treatment. UCLA's multi-place chamber is also able to treat a wider array of diagnoses, including critical care and unconscious patients.