The following is a list of applications of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy
(HBOT) being used worldwide. Most are considered experimental
and controversial by the mainstream medical community, with only
testimonials and anecdotal evidence for benefit. Medical insurance
in the United States and elsewhere will often refuse payment.
Conditions marked with an asterisk (*) below might be covered by
Medicare and other medical insurance in the U.S.
For
a list of conditions, click
here.
Emergency Indications:
Air or Gas embolism* (in divers, but can also occur during
bypass surgery)
Bends in divers (Decompression sickness)*
Burns* (thermal burns)
Carbon monoxide poisoning* (Insurance usually stops paying before
all brain injury has fully improved)
Cyanide Poisoning* Exceptional Blood Loss Anemia*
Gas gangrene*
Air embolism*
Cerebral Palsy (CP)
Crush injuries* (vascular compromise)
Osteoradionecrosis* (post radiation damage)
Cerebral edema Closed head injuries (traumatic brain injury)
Crisis of sickle cell anemia
Blast injury
Hydrogen sulfide poisoning
Near-drowning
Near-electrocution
Near-hanging
Peyote poisoning
Severed limbs
Smoke inhalation
Ileus Stroke (cerebral infarct, with benefit even long after the
event)
Specific Neurologic Indications
Autism
a. Decompression induced (divers)
b. Iatrogenic (bypass surgery, injected, etc.)
Cerebral Edema
a. Toxic encephalopathy
b. Vascular compromise
c. Traumatic
Spinal Cord Contusion
a. Physiological transection
b. Partial motor or sensory loss
Early Organic Brain Syndrome
a. Small vessel disease
b. Multiple small infarcts
Fetal alcohol syndrome Stroke (acute and chronic residuals)
Vegetative coma (acute and prolonged)
a. Closed head injury
b. Hypoxic encephalopathy (suffocation, drowning, strangulation,
cardiac arrest, near hanging, near choking, lightening strikes,
etc.)
Multiple sclerosis
a. Acute
b. Relapsing/ remitting
c. Chronic progressive
Brain Dysfunction following Bypass Surgery and Angioplasty
Cranial Nerve Syndromes
a. Trigeminal neuralgia
b. Optic neuritis
c. Vestibular disorders (vertigo, tinnitus, Meniere's syndrome)
d. Sudden deafness
e. Brain stem syndromes (ischemia, infarct)
f. Retinal artery occlusion
g. Acoustic trauma
Peripheral Neuropathy
a. Charcot Marie's tooth disease
b. Radiation myelitis
Traumatic Brain Injury
Near Drowning
Sympathetic Reflex Dystrophy
Orthopedic Indications
Soft Tissue Swelling
a. Traumatic
b. Cellulitis* (infection/mixed flora)
Compartment syndrome*
Acute necrotizing fasciitis ( so-called "flesh-eating bacteria")*
Necrotizing soft tissue infections*
Clostridial myonecrosis* (gas gangrene)
Severed limbs and digits*
Acute and chronic osteomyelitis* (bone infection)
Bone grafting
Fracture healing and nonunion*
Aseptic necrosis
Tendon and ligament injuries, post-surgical repair
Delayed wound healing
Stump infections (following amputation)
Edema under cast
Sports injuries
Miscellaneous Indications:
Peripheral vascular ulcer*
a. Arterial (atherosclerosis)
b. Decubitus (bed sores)
c. Neuropathy related (diabetes)
d. Venous (deep vein thrombosis complication)
e. Diabetic Gangrene (wet and dry, atherosclerosis, more common
in diabetes)
Compromised Skin Flaps and Grafts*
Autism Abscesses* (intra-abdominal and intracranial)
Buerger's disease Biliary atresia (after surgical correction)
Carbon tetrachloride poisoning
Fibromyalgia
Frostbite
Diabetic retinopathy
Glaucoma with visual field loss
Diabetic ulcers*
Gulf War Syndrome
Retinal artery occlusion
Retinal vein thrombosis
Lepromatous leprosy
Lyme disease
Melaney ulcer* (flesh-eating bacteria)
Meningitis
Migraine
Pancreatitis
Pneumatosis cystoides intestinalis
Pseudomembranous colitis
Plastic surgery (speed healing, reduce scar and infection)
Rheumatoid arthritis (acute)
Brown Recluse Spider Bite
Scleroderma
Sickle cell crisis and hematuria
Peptic ulcer
Plastic Surgery, speeds healing with less scar
Myocardial infarction
Slow healing wounds
Potentiate antibiotic therapy
Post-cardiotomy and low output heart failure
Radiation cystitis and enteritis*
Refractory mycoses* (fungal infections)
Suturing of Severed Limbs*
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Cerebral palsy
Post-polio syndrome
Cirrhosis Immune System Enhancement
Crohn's disease
Ulcerative colitis
ALS
Parkinson's Syndrome