Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) is a therapy that increases the amount of oxygen in the blood. HBOT works by increasing the amount of oxygen in the blood. This is accomplished by pressurizing the air inside a chamber which is then connected to an oxygen tank and breathing apparatus.
HBOT is sometimes used as an adjunct to surgery. One of the first indications for HBOT was treatment for severe decompression sickness. The initial study of its use to treat this condition was carried out by Dr. John B. West who found that the oxygen delivered Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Chamber by the HBOT acted as a painkiller.
After his study, HBOT was shown to have benefit for other types of injury as well, including the prevention of scar tissue formation. Many people use HBOT for treatment of other medical problems. HBOT was shown to reduce scar tissue after plastic surgery and to enhance wound healing after surgery. HBOT is used to treat: burns, broken bones, and skin ulcers.