New Hyperbaric Chambers to Assist Patients’ Healing Process

Ministry Saint Joseph’s Hospital now offers two hyperbaric chambers to patients undergoing hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT).

On November 28, Ministry Saint Joseph’s introduced hyperbaric oxygen therapy to the community with two state-of-the-art single person chambers in the new hyperbaric medicine department. The option of hyperbaric oxygen therapy provides a safe and non-invasive treatment for patients with difficult wounds, crush injuries, acute burns, bone infection, carbon monoxide poisoning and radiation injury, among other conditions. “Hyperbaric oxygen therapy supports the body’s healing process by stimulating the growth of new blood vessels and helping to control infection,” said Ryan Neville, PT, director of rehabilitation services at Ministry Saint Joseph’s.

Patients receiving this therapy are placed in one of two special chambers that administer a 100 percent oxygen rich environment at increased atmospheric pressures. The high level of oxygen reaches sites of injury or infection through the bloodstream, resulting in improved healing, greater blood vessel formation and improved management of infection. The hyperbaric chambers used by Ministry are among the largest and most comfortable available today.

“This therapy has been proven to be a safe, painless, primary or complementary treatment for many conditions. For example, in problematic, non-healing wounds that meet specific criteria, hyperbaric oxygen therapy may be the essential means of avoiding limb amputation,” said Michael Caldwell, MD, a Marshfield Clinic surgeon on staff at Ministry Saint Joseph’s Hospital, and director of hyperbaric medicine.

Each treatment session in the chamber lasts approximately two hours, with patients breathing 100 percent oxygen at 2 to 3 times normal atmospheric pressure. Patients lie comfortably inside the clear acrylic vessel during the treatment and are able to enjoy personal TV monitors with DVD players or napping during treatment.

Both chambers are monitored closely by physicians, nurses and technologists. Depending on the condition, for HBOT to be effective, patients may need to commit to treatment every weekday for up to six weeks.

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is an effective treatment for:

• Air or Gas Embolism
• Carbon Monoxide Poisoning with or without Cyanide Poisoning
• Gas Gangrene
• Crush Injury, Compartment Syndrome and Other Acute Traumatic Ischemias
• Decompression Sickness (“Bends”)
• Central Retinal Artery Occlusion
• Enhancement of Healing in Selected Problem Wounds
• Severe Anemia
• Intracranial Abscess
• Necrotizing Soft Tissue Infections
• Compromised Grafts and Flaps
• Acute Thermal Burn Injury
• Sudden Sensineural Hearing Loss

For more information, please contact Ryan Neville, PT, at 715.387.9515.