Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) is a medical treatment that enhances the body's natural healing process by inhalation of 100% oxygen in a total body chamber, where atmospheric pressure is increased and controlled. It is used for a wide variety of treatments usually as a part of an overall medical care plan.
Pronunciation
Hyperbaric: /ˌhaɪpərˈberɪk/ Oxygen: /ˈɒksɪdʒən/ Therapy: /ˈθɛrəpi/
Etymology
The term Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy is derived from Greek words: "Hyper" meaning high, "baros" meaning weight, and "oxy" from the Greek "oxys" meaning sharp or acid, and "genes" meaning born of or produced by.
Related Terms
- Decompression sickness
- Gas embolism
- Carbon monoxide poisoning
- Wound healing
- Radiation injury
- Infection
Treatment
Under Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy, the patient breathes 100% oxygen while inside a pressurized chamber. The increased pressure allows more oxygen to get into the bloodstream which promotes healing and fights infection. This therapy is used to treat several medical conditions such as decompression sickness, serious infections, bubbles of air in blood vessels, and wounds that won't heal as a result of diabetes or radiation injury.
Risks
Like all medical treatments, Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy has potential risks and side effects which may include changes in vision, causing nearsightedness, middle ear injuries, lung collapse caused by air pressure changes (barotrauma), oxygen poisoning, which can cause lung failure, fluid in the lungs, seizures, and anxiety due to confinement in a small space.
See Also
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