Rapid City Regional Hospital - Hyperbaric Medicine

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy provides 100 percent pure oxygen (in contrast to the air we breathe, which contains 21 percent oxygen) in a pressurized chamber. This "hyperbaric" or high pressure dose of oxygen offers distinct therapeutic benefits in a variety of illnesses. It may be the primary treatment for some disorders, but it's often combined with antibiotics and surgery.

HBO₂ therapy delivers oxygen quickly and in high concentrations to injured areas systemically. The increased pressure changes the normal cellular respiration process and causes oxygen to dissolve in the plasma. This results in a substantial increase in tissue oxygenation. HBO₂ is beneficial because it stimulates the growth of new blood vessels and increases oxygenation that can stop certain types of infections and enhance wound healing.

Experienced, highly trained nurses staff Rapid City Regional Hospital's Hyperbaric Medicine Department. Hyperbaric Medicine also has fully-credentialed physicians to answer your questions 24-hours each day.

Emergent and non-emergent treatment for the following:

Cerebral arterial air embolism	Crush injuries
Delayed-radiation injury	Decompression sickness
Carbon monoxide poisoning	Gas gangrene
Non-healing diabetic wounds	Necrotizing soft tissue infections
Chronic osteomyelitis	Compromised skin grafts and flaps
Exceptional blood loss anemia

Generally this treatment provides one or more of the following effects:

Enhanced wound healing	Preservation of damaged tissues
Increased oxygen delivery to injured tissue	Elimination and reduced effects of toxic substances
Improved infection control	Reduction or elimination of gas-bubble obstructions
Greater blood vessel formation