Hyperbaric Medicine Unit

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy

In 1986, Mercy Medical Center became the first area hospital to help patients heal chronic wounds and treat other health conditions through the added use of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBO).

In 2010, Mercy became the first hospital in Stark, Summit, Wayne, Holmes and Tuscarawas Counties to acquire a state-of-the-art BARA-MED® XD computerized monoplace hyperbaric oxygen chamber. Designed to improve patient comfort and healing, this larger chamber allows patients to easily stretch out, roll over, and move their extremities. Another advantage is the chamber’s “Smooth-Ride” pressure-change technology. This reduces the risks associated with complications related to middle ear and sinus pressure problems during compression and decompression. Another patient-friendly feature is the chamber’s quiet operation, which provides patients a more comfortable experience watching TV, listening to music or communicating with the caregiver.

To learn more about Mercy’s Hyperbaric Medicine Unit, call 330-489-1393.

See how one woman's wound healed after hyperbaric oxygen therapy treatments. Click here.

What is Hyperbaric Oxygen?

Hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) therapy is a medical treatment where the entire body is enclosed and exposed to 100 percent oxygen at greater than normal atmospheric pressure. HBO therapy promotes healing by increasing the oxygen-delivery pressure to the affected or injured tissues. In conjunction with other forms of therapy (antibiotics, surgery, wound care, etc), hyperbaric therapy has proven to enhance wound healing by 85-90 percent.

HBO has been proven to be an effective “adjunctive” treatment for:

Diabetic wounds
Failed skin grafts and flaps
Radiation tissue injuries
Necrotizing infections (flesh-eating bacteria infection)
Gas gangrene
Acute traumatic ischemias (trauma, circulatory blockages)
Chronic refractory osteomyelitis (bone infection resistant to standard treatment)
Air gas embolism
Decompression sickness
Carbon monoxide poisoning
Exceptional blood loss anemia
Meleny ulcers
Actinomycosis (flesh-eating yeast infection)

How Does HBO Work?

The atmospheric pressure at sea level is approximately 14.7 pounds per square-inch equaling one atmosphere. When you receive HBO therapy, this pressure is gradually increased an additional one or two atmospheres, as prescribed by your hyperbaric physician.

Increasing the atmospheric pressure–while breathing 100 percent oxygen–dissolves oxygen into the blood, fluids, and tissues in a much higher concentration than if you were to breathe the same 100 percent oxygen under normal room pressure. After two to three weeks of therapy, the small capillaries begin to grow, delivering more oxygen to the needed area, which starts the healing process.

What Will I Feel During Treatment?

Pressuring Phase

(approximately 10–15 minutes)
During this phase, you may have a feeling of fullness in your ears similar to that experienced by flying or scuba diving. This feeling is a result of the eardrums responding to the increase in pressure. An experienced hyperbaric staff member will be with you at all times to help you relieve any ear pressure (Accomplished by yawning, swallowing, or valsalva).

Treatment Phase

(90 minutes, once pressure is reached)
During this phase, you can sleep, watch TV, listen to music or watch a movie. Mercy Hyperbaric Medicine unit has a selection of movies or you may bring in one of your own, provided it is in good taste.

Decompression Phase

(approximately 7–10 minutes)
The chamber attendant will gradually decrease the pressure inside the chamber. During this time, you may experience a crackling or popping sound in your ears. This is similar to the feeling you would have driving down a mountain. It may last a few minutes to hours after therapy.

During this phase, do not hold your breath and blow your nose. This could cause over-pressurization of the lungs. The hyperbaric staff will remind you of this during the assessment and subsequent treatments. When removed from the chamber, you may feel a little bloated. This is usually relieved after sitting up.

Are There Any After Effects?

For the most part, no. If your ears continue to pop two days after therapy or you develop some difficulty hearing, please inform the HBO staff. This is usually related to fluid build-up behind the eardrum and may require physician treatment to resolve the situation. It is a pressure-related problem, and it is not uncommon for this to occur. The doctor may either prescribe a decongestant, or refer you to an ear, nose and throat specialist for possible insertion of ear tubes.

Some patients do report feeling tired after starting treatments. This may be due in part to the body’s over-working the red blood cells and need for the production of more. This is nothing to be alarmed with.

After a series of approximately 20–30 treatments (this number may vary depending on the patient, the pressure, and the condition being treated),visual changes may occur. This is exhibited in difficulty with distance focusing, or improvement in your vision. This is rarely permanent and should last a short time.

If you are to see your eye doctor during the course of your HBO therapy, or shortly thereafter, please inform your physician that you are receiving HBO treatments. It may save changing your eyeglass prescription prematurely.

As with all medical procedures, there are risks involved, especially with the increase oxygen exposure. These will be discussed with you in detail by the HBO physician and reviewed by technician during your initial interview for treatment.

How Should I Prepare For Treatment?

Before you begin HBO therapy, please avoid using any of the following for at least three to four hours prior to each treatment:

Body Oils
Perfumes
Baby powders
Cosmetics
Hair sprays
After shave

Most of these items are made with a petroleum base and do have a sparking potential–even though small.

Before going into the chamber, you will be required to remove all clothing, including undergarments and wear hospital scrubs made of 100 percent cotton (which are provided).

If you are taking medication, please continue as directed by your primary care physician. Diabetics using insulin should continue their daily routine following the prescribed diet. The hyperbaric physician will need to have a list of all medications that you are presently taking. Medications that cause special concern are insulin, prednisone or steroids, anticoagulants, pain medication, tranquilizers and antibiotics.

Do You Have A Wound?

Wound care is considered a part of your hyperbaric treatment. After your initial visit, wound care will be discussed and coordinated. Dressing changes and minor debridements will be performed as arranged in either the Mercy Wound Care Center or Hyperbaric Unit.

During treatment, dressings will remain on. There is no need to expose the wounds to the oxygen pressure, since direct breathing of the oxygen will get to the site through the cardiopulmonary system.

Photographs of the wound(s) are normally taken just prior to starting therapy and at various intervals to document progress and effectiveness of treatment. If you are currently performing dressing changes at home, the hyperbaric staff will discuss this with you.

Are You Coming Down With A Cold?

If you feel like you are coming down with a cold or upper respiratory infection, please inform the Mercy Hyperbaric Medicine staff of symptoms such as:

Sore throat, cough
Fever, diarrhea
Nausea, vomiting
Discolored sputum
Cold sores, fever blisters,
General aches and pains

Your treatments may have to be postponed until after these symptoms are gone.

Do You Use Tobacco?

If you are a smoker, or use tobacco products, you will be asked to stop during the hyperbaric treatment course. Use of these products is counterproductive to the desired effect of treatment.

Scheduling Hyperbaric Treatments

Your treatments will be scheduled as soon as possible. Treatment times may vary, but every attempt will be made to accommodate standard treatment times.

If at any time you are unable to make your scheduled appointment, please notify the Mercy Hyperbaric Medicine unit at 330-489-1393.

For further questions or concerns, please feel free to call the hyperbaric medicine unit. If it’s after-hours, leave a voice-mail message, and the staff will get back to you as soon as possible.

For more information, call 330-489-1393.