Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy

Originally used primarily as a treatment for decompression sickness and other diving accidents, hyperbaric oxygen therapy has proven highly effective for a variety of medical and surgical conditions.

Noninvasive and painless, hyperbaric oxygen therapy involves periodic, short-term inhalation of 100 percent oxygen at high pressures. It is typically used to augment other treatments and enhance the body’s natural healing process.

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy dramatically raises the oxygen level in the bloodstream. Delivering up to 15 times more oxygen to damaged tissues than normal respiration, hyperbaric oxygen therapy increases the ability of white blood cells to kill bacteria, reduces local swelling and promotes the growth of new blood vessels.

Among the positive impacts for patients:

• Accelerated wound healing
• Decreased morbidity and long-term disability
• Shorter hospital stays
• Reduced cost of care
• Improved quality of life

For more information, please call 561-753-2680.

Treating a Wide Range of Conditions

Wellington Regional Hospital’s Hyperbaric Medicine Program has provided hyperbaric oxygen therapy to patients since 2003, and continues to grow each year. The hospital treats only conditions approved for treatment by the recognized national authority on hyperbaric oxygen therapy, the Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Committee of the Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society.

Most commonly, the hospital provides hyperbaric oxygen therapy for:

• Enhancement of healing in selected problem wounds
• Radiation tissue damage
• Preparing for tooth extraction or surgery in areas treated with radiation therapy
• Refractory osteomyelitis

Other conditions for which the hospital provides hyperbaric oxygen therapy include:

• Necrotizing soft tissue infections
• Compromised skin grafts and flaps after surgery
• Crush injury, compartment syndrome and other acute traumatic ischemias

An Ideal Treatment Environment

The program’s physicians possess specialized expertise in hyperbaric oxygen therapy and are active clinical researchers in this area. They work closely with the technical and nursing staff, who also have special training in hyperbaric oxygen therapy.

The hospital's spacious, advanced hyperbaric facility is designed to provide a comfortable, pleasant environment for patients. The hospital uses PERRY monoplace hyperbaric chambers, which have an impeccable safety record. Their transparent, double-acrylic walls allow technicians to closely monitor patients and allow patients a clear outward view. While inside these total-body chambers, patients can communicate with attending technicians via intercom, watch television, listen to music or nap.

Patients inhale 10 times as much oxygen as at sea level and experience approximately twice the atmospheric pressure. They rarely feel any more discomfort than they would from changes in air pressure during airplane travel.

Throughout treatment, patients are attended to by one of the medical staff who has been specially trained in hyperbaric oxygen therapy. In addition, the program provides excellent wound care before and after hyperbaric treatment.

The frequency and duration of hyperbaric oxygen therapy varies considerably, depending on the condition being treated. Typical treatment is two hours per day, five days a week.

Referral and Contact Information

The hospital treats acute and chronic wound patients. Physicians provide communication back to the patient's primary physician to coordinate care.

The Center for Wound Care and Hyperbaric Medicine is open Monday through Friday, and participates in most health plans, many of which reimburse hyperbaric oxygen therapy, including Medicare.