Author(s) :

Joshua Lin.

Volume/Issue :

Abstract :

Oxygen is a vital component of wound healing. When trauma occurs, causing a wound, it is difficult to get oxygen to the wound site because of the damage that is present. Hyperbaric oxygen chamber therapy (HBOT) is employed to combat hypoxia in wounds by having the patient inhale high concentrations of oxygen at elevated atmospheric pressures, accelerating the rate at which oxygen dissolves into the bloodstream at a faster rate. HBOT has been used to treat a variety of conditions like diabetic foot ulcers, Crohn’s disease, and chronic wounds. Yet, the limited body of literature and the risk of complications have limited the application of HBOT. Medical professionals have proven the significance of oxygen on wound healing from stimulating most of the vital functions to initiating the production of certain genes, oxygen is the keystone for successful complete wound healing. On the other hand, the risk of oxygen toxicity is one of the main contraindications of HBOT. Contrary to common knowledge, recent studies have shown that HBOT administered at a lower atmospheric pressure with a lower oxygen concentration can decrease this risk significantly. Low-pressure hyperbaric oxygen therapy (L-HBOT) may still be as effective as traditional high-pressure hyperbaric oxygen therapy (H-HBOT) without the unpredictable complications that medical professionals are unsure of. In all, this review aims to analyze recent studies to provide a clear comparison between these two variations of HBOT.