Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is now an integral part of the current therapeutic arsenal, it is a treatment that has a large number of indications and which concerns several specialties. This development aims to summarize some main indications.
KeywordsHyperbaric Oxygen Therapy
DefinitionHyperbaric oxygen therapy is a mode of therapy that involves working at pressures three to four times higher than atmospheric pressure. These pressures are reached in a sealed chamber called hyperbaric therapeutic chamber. The treatment involves inhaling pure oxygen (100%) through a face mask into a patient placed in a hyperbaric chamber at a higher than normal atmospheric pressure (760 mm Hg or 1ATA). The pressure inside the box can reach 4 bars [1].
Mechanisms of ActionSeveral mechanisms are associated during the intermittent exposure of oxygen under pressure. The most important mechanisms are: "the Hyperpressionhyperbarie", the hyperventilation, "the anti-infective effect", the healing effect.