Department Overview

What is hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT)? What kinds of patients can it treat? These are questions many people are curious about. Simply put, during hyperbaric oxygen therapy, patients enter a metal or acrylic chamber that is then sealed. An air compressor increases the pressure to above 1.4 atmospheres, allowing patients to breathe pure oxygen. Breathing oxygen under high pressure rapidly increases the oxygen content in the body, enabling all cells throughout the body to benefit from oxygen therapy.

According to current medical understanding, hyperbaric oxygen therapy has been proven to promote new blood vessel formation, activate tissues, and stimulate collagen production. It also inhibits bacterial growth and has bactericidal effects. It is effective in accelerating recovery from various types of injuries—such as surgical wounds, bleeding and edema caused by sports or accidental injuries, anaerobic bacterial infections, and difficult-to-heal wounds in patients with diabetes.

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy also increases oxygen levels in brain tissue, accelerates the elimination of carbon monoxide, and reduces cellular damage and sequelae caused by cerebral hypoxia. Therefore, it is used to treat carbon monoxide poisoning. Neurological applications include concussion, cerebral edema, embolic stroke, insomnia, chronic migraines, dizziness, and facial nerve paralysis. Gastrointestinal conditions that may benefit from hyperbaric oxygen therapy include abdominal bloating, peptic ulcers, and ulcerative colitis.

Other surgical applications of hyperbaric oxygen therapy include pressure ulcers, fractures, osteonecrosis, crush injuries, postoperative air embolism, radiation cystitis with hematuria, radiation proctitis with bloody stools, radiation-induced osteonecrosis, burns and scalds, postoperative care following skin grafting, and hemorrhagic shock.

In obstetrics and gynecology, hyperbaric oxygen therapy can be used to treat vaginitis, cervical erosion, pelvic inflammatory disease, poor uterine healing postpartum, and severe postpartum hemorrhage caused by uterine atony. In otolaryngology, hyperbaric oxygen therapy is commonly used for sudden sensorineural hearing loss and Ménière’s disease. Ophthalmologic indications include ocular trauma, eye infections, and sudden blindness. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy can also treat decompression sickness, altitude sickness, gas poisoning, and air embolism.

For patients with poor peripheral circulation, vascular patency examinations are generally recommended first. If vascular obstruction is present, vascular bypass surgery may be performed to improve the success rate of hyperbaric oxygen therapy.

In short, hyperbaric oxygen therapy increases oxygen levels in all tissues and organs throughout the body, achieving effects such as reducing swelling, promoting angiogenesis, repairing cells, and eliminating toxins. In the future, it is expected that more diseases will be treated with hyperbaric oxygen therapy.

Equipment / Environment

Includes:

• Main control console

• Hyperbaric chamber

Introduction to the Hyperbaric Oxygen Environment:
Center entrance, main control console, interior of the chamber

Services

Special Hyperbaric Oxygen Outpatient Clinic Hours:

• Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday mornings:
  Dr. Nien-Jin Hsiao (also affiliated with the Department of Rehabilitation)

Outpatient Schedule

Hyperbaric Oxygen Chamber Treatment Times:

• Morning: 09:20

• Afternoon: 13:20

Related Information

Phone: (03) 596-2134 ext. 352
Direct line: (03) 602-9983 for inquiries