Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy

J. Eric Greensmith, M.D., Ph.D.
Division of Respiratory Care
University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics

Creation Date: January 2002
Last Revision Date: January 2002
Peer Review Status: Internally Peer Reviewed

Table of Contents

Hyperbaric oxygen is a means of providing additional oxygen to your body tissues. This is done by placing the patient’s entire body under increased atmospheric pressure in a closely monitored air-tight chamber. During HBO therapy, the patient breathes 100% oxygen for a restricted time.

Medical treatments of this type have been proven effective for a number of medical and surgical conditions, either as primary treatment, or as a supplement to other forms of treatment such as surgery or antibiotics. The University of Iowa has been using HBO therapy since 1988.

• How does it work?
• What is a chamber?
• Is HBO treatment painful?
• What will the patient feel during the treatment?
• Are there any after effects?
• How many treatments are needed?
• What must a patient do to prepare for treatment?