Conditions We Treat

We treat both emergency indications and elective indications.

Emergency Indications

Decompression illness (‘The bends’)
HBO rapidly resolves the inert gas bubbles and provides oxygenation to ischemic and hypoxic tissues. There is no alternative therapy. More…

Air or gas embolus
HBO decreases bubble size and increases the diffusion gradient of embolized gas. There is no alternative therapy. More…

Severe carbon monoxide poisoning
HBO hastens carboxyhaemoglobin dissociation and markedly reduces permanent neurological damage. More…

Necrotizing Soft Tissue Infections
Recommended treatment is HBO, surgery and antibiotics. HBO reduces the need for amputations and brings rapid cessation of alpha-toxin production, which is a lethal complication of gas gangrene. HBO adversely affects bacterialgrowth by direct toxic mechanisms, while increasing white cell bacterial killing. Routine use of HBO can decrease mortality by two-thirds. More…

Clostridial myonecrosis (‘Gas gangrene’)
Necrotizing fasciitis
Crush injury and compartment syndrome
HBO reduces edema and compartment pressures while increasing tissue oxygen delivery, reducing the need for surgical relief of elevated compartment pressures while preserving tissue.

Elective Indications

Non-healing hypoxic wounds - Problem wound case study
HBO can restore a favourable cellular environment in which healing and anti-bacterial mechanisms are enhanced. More…

Radiation bone necrosis (Osteoradionecrosis)
HBO has been shown to stimulate growth of capillaries, fibroplast proliferation and collagen synthesis in the radiated bone and soft tissue. More…

Refractory osteomyelitis (Chronic Bone infection) – Refractory Osteomyelitis case study
HBO is used as an adjunct to antibiotics, debridement, nutritional support and reconstructive surgery in cases of superficial, localized and diffuse Osteomyelitis. More…

Severe haemorrhagic anaemia
The intermittent use of HBO dissolves enough oxygen in the plasma of severely anaemic patients to support basic metabolic needs until sufficient red blood cell counts are restored. More…

Acute Traumatic Peripheral Ischaemias
Acute traumatic peripheral ischaemias (ATPI) include conditions such as frostbite, crush injury, compartment syndrome, burns, threatened flaps and replantations. More…

Compromised skin flaps and grafts (Critical Ischemia) – Critical ischemia case study
Following ischaemia or vascular repair in cases where there has been decreased microcirculation or hypoxia, HBO maximizes the viability and final functional level of the compromised nerve and muscle tissue. More…

Severe thermal injury (burns)
HBO helps maintain microvascular integrity, minimizes edema and provides the substrate necessary to maintain viability. (HBO Recommended by the European Committee for Hyperbaric Medicine but not treated at London Hyperbaric and Wound Healing Centre as specialist burn treatment facilities not available on site.)

Other conditions which have been successfully treated and funded by the NHS at our Wound Healing Centre include: