Features
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBO) is a non-invasive treatment in which the patient is placed in a completely closed pressure chamber, which is pressurized from 1.4 to 3 atmospheres to allow the patient to breathe 100% oxygen. It is an intermittent, high-concentration, and short-duration oxygen breathing therapy.
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is a physical process of increasing the amount of oxygen dissolved in plasma by pressure changes. It increases the oxygen concentration in the blood to improve the oxygen content in the tissues, improves the oxygen content in the blood and the affected tissues, reduces the harm that bubbles may cause in the body or minimizes the injury of the hypoxic tissue, and can promote wound healing, cause blood vessel constriction, reduce tissue edema after the wound, and enhance the bactericidal ability of the white blood cells.
Hyperbaric oxygen center: management of complications related to decompression and air embolism after diving, as well as medical consultation for staff working in abnormal barometric pressure environments. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is applied to all kinds of diseases in clinical practice. In addition to diving medication-related diseases, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, management, and academic research are also provided for related indications, such as carbon monoxide poisoning, osteomyelitis, problematic wounds, burns, delayed radiation injury (soft tissue and bone necrosis), sudden deafness, ophthalmic artery obstruction, and cerebral infarction, etc.
Problem wound clinic: The problem wound treatment center has a specialized medical team to provide special treatment for wounds that are difficult to heal, including outpatient service and consultation in various hospitals, such as diabetic foot ulcers, venous wounds, pressure ulcers, osteomyelitis, various infected wounds, and tissue injury caused by radiation.
To carry out multidisciplinary consultation and holistic health initiatives: strengthen the cooperation with clinical departments, including the appropriate arrangement and integration of inpatients in adjuvant therapy. For example, patients with diabetic foot and peripheral vascular obstruction may receive an angiography and percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) after a consultation with cardiovascular medicine while hospitalized. Concurrently, the hyperbaric oxygen and problem wound treatment center provides integrated treatment, including wound care and hyperbaric oxygen therapy.
Single-chamber hyperbaric oxygen therapy: pressurize with 100% oxygen to the desired therapeutic depth. During the treatment, patients do not need to wear masks and breathe oxygen directly in the hyperbaric oxygen chamber. During the treatment, patients can listen to music, watch TV programs, or close their eyes for rest. The hyperbaric oxygen chamber of our hospital is completely horizontal and transparent, which can increase the sense of safety and comfort. In principle, the treatment time is about 60 minutes, once a day, 5 days a week. Our Division of Hyperbaric Oxygen Medicine is equipped with hyperbaric oxygen chambers and a wound care clinic, supported by a dedicated wound care team that assists in the care and treatment of various types of inpatients with difficult-to-heal wounds.
Future Outlook
In the future, it is hoped that through the publication of articles and journal articles, academic seminars, and press conferences, the public can further understand the advantages and efficacy of hyperbaric oxygen therapy and increase their understanding of the affiliated hospital of Chung Shan Medical University and Division of Hyperbaric Oxygen Medicine. The center will also establish clinical guidelines for related diseases, improve patient safety, and invest in relevant clinical and basic research. To provide patients with safer and more effective hyperbaric oxygen therapy, through continuous staff training and improvement, combined with interdisciplinary specialized intervention, cooperation, and patient-centered case management.