During hyperbaric oxygen therapy, a person is placed in an enclosed clear acrylic chamber into which 100 percent oxygen is pumped at high pressure. The purpose is to increase the level of oxygen in the blood (such as nitrogen or carbon monoxide). This increases the amount of oxygen available to the skin and underlying tissues, which can prevent tissue death, promote healing, and help fight infection. The process involves three phases: compression, treatment, and decompression.
The beginning of the treatment is the compression phase, where the atmospheric pressure is increased over several minutes. This causes the concentration of oxygen in the bloodstream to rise 15-20 times greater than normal.
Once full pressurization occurs, the treatment phase begins and continues for approximately one and a half to two hours. These high levels of oxygen promote the healing of damaged tissues, reduce swelling, reduces air bubble size, and discourages bacteria growth. Blood pressure, heart rate, and other vitals may be monitored throughout the course of treatment.
The final step of treatment is the decompression phase, in which the chamber temperature will cool. This takes place over a period of several minutes.
