RESEARCH SHOWS

Research Shows that HBOT Heals Sores, Injuries and Non-healing Wounds

HBOT is a treatment that helps with healing by increasing the growth of new blood vessels and cells in the wound area. It can also kill bacteria, improve tissue survival after blood flow problems, and improve chronic osteonecrosis.

GET STARTED For Patients

How Hyperbarics Helps

Increases blood flow and oxygenation

Stimulates tissue repair

Induces stem cell reproduction and mobilization

Stimulates up-regulation of growth hormones

Prevents amputations

What the Research Says

Numerous studies have documented the benefits of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) for healing diabetic wounds and delayed radiation injuries. HBOT supports healing by increasing neovascularization by angiogenesis (growth of new blood vessels from endothelial cells) and vasculogenesis (recruitment and differentiation of the wound bed of circulating stem and progenitor cells). HBOT is also bacterioststic and bactericidal, improves post-ischemic tissue survival, and improves chronic osteonecrosis. HBOT has also been shown to help heal a wide range of additional injuries that are also characterized by low oxygen and low blood flow, such as compromised flaps and grafts, osteomyelitis and burns. When oxygen tensions are elevated, the initial effects of increased production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS) result in: Improved neovascularization with Increased wound growth factor synthesis∘ SPCs mobilization from bone marrow Improved post-ischemic tissue survival - Neutrophil B-actin s-nitrosylation Lower monocyte chemokine synthesis Ischemic preconditioning changes HO-1, HSPs, HIF-1 Ischemic preconditioning changes HO-1, HSPs, HIF-1 We have worked with hundreds of physician-refered patients with non-healing wounds that are a result of diabetes or delayed radiation injury. Most insurance companies, as well as Medicare, typically cover the cost of hyperbaric oxygen therapy for damage or non-healing wounds following radiation therapy. HBOT stimulates angiogenesis in hypoxic tissues, correcting the ischemia. New, healthy blood vessels supplying blood and oxygen to damaged tissues improves flap and graft salvage. Often the wounds that cause pain, tightness, tenderness and burning after breast cancer radiation treatments resolve on their own in a few months. However, those that do not resolve are most often responsive to hyperbaric oxygen therapy. Over the last 20 years, we have observed HBOT helping patients with a variety of non-healing wounds on the breast, ribs and chest wall. We have seen resolved infections, resolved pain and skin returned to its’ normal color. We have also seen shoulder and elbow pain reduced or eliminated by resolving lyphedema and salvaged flaps.

Patient Experiences

Bay Area Hyperbarics has healed hundreds of patients with stubborn and non-healing wounds over the last 20 years.

David, a retired software project manager, had a 100% arterial occlusion for which he received an arterial stint. When a 2 1/2 inch diameter wound on his right leg with a graft wouldn’t heal, he came to HBOT. After receiving his prescribed HBOT sessions, the wound closed, and he was able to resume his typical activities. She had a double mastectomy, radiation and chemotherapy. The weakness and fatigue that followed in the wake of her procedures were bad enough, but the pain that arose was almost debilitating. Because of the pain, she had difficulty driving her girls to daycare because she could barely hold onto the steering wheel. She complained that her arms felt like lead and her left shoulder hurt with a shocking intensity every time she turned the steering wheel. She simply cried in pain as she drove. Her physician diagnosed this pain as damage from the radiation treatments, and he sent her to Bay Area Hyperbarics. Karen's hyperbaric oxygen treatments healed her pain, the swelling and the aching. To her additional relief, HBOT also helped diminish the overall body fatigue that otherwise increased as morning progressed to afternoon.
David, 64

A wound on his leg, with a skin graft, would not heal. After HBOT, the wound closed.
Amita was an active hiker, but because of gangrene, lost all the toes on her right foot. Unfortunately, the surgical wound from the amputation would not heal , and her doctors were planning to amputate her foot.After a series of HBOT sessions, her wound healed up. A year later when we checked in with Amita, the wound was still healed. On some school holidays, she brings one of her children in to the shop. Angelina had a lumpectomy and radiation to her right breast. The difficulty started slowly over the next several years when she had pain on lifting up her right arm. Cancer was ruled out. She was sent to physical therapy. She did her physical therapy exercises daily as they requested but the weakness and pain continued to make working difficult as she repaired items on the machines. I gave her information about hyperbaric medicine and what it had done for my mother. She took it to her physician who approved her for HBOT. The mild swelling and some pain reduced within the first week of treatments. It took 30 treatments to repair the tissues to dispel the pain. A year later she was still working in the shop without pain or range of motion issues.
Amita, 22

Gangrene on her foot would not heal. HBOT prevented amputation.
John had compartment syndrome and infections after having received multiple surgeries over 6 months. He also had a failed graft. John’s doctor sent him to HBOT to prepare him for a new graft, which was successful. After applying the new graft, John’s doctor sent him back to HBOT to help the new (threatened) graft heal. In the end, John’s grafts all healed. She had breast reconstruction and subsequent surgical wounds. Unfortunately, one of the incisions became infected, painful and slow to heal. Denise was hospitalized and given IV antibiotics. She came to Bay Area Hyperbarics because her physician said she wasn’t healing quickly because the radiation had damaged the tissues. She moved slowly so as not to jostle her shoulder which would cause her more pain. The hyperbaric oxygen sessions healed up her incision and supercharged the antibiotics to kill the infection. Needless to say she is healed and on the road again taking care of others in need.
John, 72

Had skin grafts that had trouble healing. HBOT helped the threatened grafts heal

David, 64

A wound on his leg, with a skin graft, would not heal. After HBOT, the wound closed.

David, a retired software project manager, had a 100% arterial occlusion for which he received an arterial stint. When a 2 1/2 inch diameter wound on his right leg with a graft wouldn’t heal, he came to HBOT. After receiving his prescribed HBOT sessions, the wound closed, and he was able to resume his typical activities. She had a double mastectomy, radiation and chemotherapy. The weakness and fatigue that followed in the wake of her procedures were bad enough, but the pain that arose was almost debilitating. Because of the pain, she had difficulty driving her girls to daycare because she could barely hold onto the steering wheel. She complained that her arms felt like lead and her left shoulder hurt with a shocking intensity every time she turned the steering wheel. She simply cried in pain as she drove. Her physician diagnosed this pain as damage from the radiation treatments, and he sent her to Bay Area Hyperbarics. Karen's hyperbaric oxygen treatments healed her pain, the swelling and the aching. To her additional relief, HBOT also helped diminish the overall body fatigue that otherwise increased as morning progressed to afternoon.
Amita, 22

Gangrene on her foot would not heal. HBOT prevented amputation.

Amita was an active hiker, but because of gangrene, lost all the toes on her right foot. Unfortunately, the surgical wound from the amputation would not heal , and her doctors were planning to amputate her foot.After a series of HBOT sessions, her wound healed up. A year later when we checked in with Amita, the wound was still healed. On some school holidays, she brings one of her children in to the shop. Angelina had a lumpectomy and radiation to her right breast. The difficulty started slowly over the next several years when she had pain on lifting up her right arm. Cancer was ruled out. She was sent to physical therapy. She did her physical therapy exercises daily as they requested but the weakness and pain continued to make working difficult as she repaired items on the machines. I gave her information about hyperbaric medicine and what it had done for my mother. She took it to her physician who approved her for HBOT. The mild swelling and some pain reduced within the first week of treatments. It took 30 treatments to repair the tissues to dispel the pain. A year later she was still working in the shop without pain or range of motion issues.
John, 72

Had skin grafts that had trouble healing. HBOT helped the threatened grafts heal

John had compartment syndrome and infections after having received multiple surgeries over 6 months. He also had a failed graft. John’s doctor sent him to HBOT to prepare him for a new graft, which was successful. After applying the new graft, John’s doctor sent him back to HBOT to help the new (threatened) graft heal. In the end, John’s grafts all healed. She had breast reconstruction and subsequent surgical wounds. Unfortunately, one of the incisions became infected, painful and slow to heal. Denise was hospitalized and given IV antibiotics. She came to Bay Area Hyperbarics because her physician said she wasn’t healing quickly because the radiation had damaged the tissues. She moved slowly so as not to jostle her shoulder which would cause her more pain. The hyperbaric oxygen sessions healed up her incision and supercharged the antibiotics to kill the infection. Needless to say she is healed and on the road again taking care of others in need.

Refer a Patient

Refer a patient in three easy steps.

1

You submit patient’s information

As a provider, your office fills out and faxes back the Patient Referral Form. Have questions? Call us!

2

We get authorizations

We make sure the patient understands treatment and then follow the prescribed protocol to get the patient on the road to recovery!

3

Patient starts HBOT

Our medical staff meets with the patient to ensure that HBOT is appropriatre, and contacts Medicare or private insurance to receive authorization.

Patient Referral Form Book a Call

Research on Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy

To learn more about HBOT, take a look at our FAQs.

What is Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy?
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy treats medical conditions with 100% oxygen in a pressurized hyperbaric chamber. The patient lies or sits in the chamber. The oxygen then saturates the plasma in the blood, allowing oxygen to easily flow throughout the body and reach even areas that are injured or diseased, which typically receive less oxygen. The mechanisms of hyperbaric oxygen therapy include stimulating and mobilizing stem cells, down-regulating inflammatory genes, up-regulating reproductive cells and stimulating DNA. HBOT also regrows tiny blood vessels, and stimulates the growth of new healthy cells in the brain, bones, skin, organs, and tissues. People seek hyperbaric oxygen therapy to heal physical damage in their bodies and to promoting health and anti-aging.
Does HBOT kill cancer cells?
Current research indicates that hyperbaric oxygen does not kill cancer cells. However, there has been a small amount of research indicating that hyperbaric oxygen might reduce the size of certain tumors. Also, there has been a study on mice using hyperbaric oxygen, along with a ketogenic diet, to reduce tumors. Hyperbaric oxygen causes many different healing modalities to kick into gear. Could its effect on strengthening the immune system inhibit the growth of cancer cells? Nobody knows. There are numerous studies conclusively showing that hyperbaric oxygen does not encourage cancer cells or tumors to grow. Some patients claim the hyperbaric oxygen makes them feel a lot more comfortable and functional after chemotherapy and also during healing. Note that some chemotherapy drugs are not to be used with hyperbaric oxygen, as the chemotherapy drugs can be enhanced and thus become toxic. A good hyperbaric oxygen facility (such as Bay Area Hyperbarics) will always call the chemotherapy manufacturer to ensure that hyperbaric oxygen therapy will be helpful and not damaging to the patient.
IWhat is the CPT code for HBOT?
The CPT code for HBOT is G0277.
Does Medicare cover HBOT?
Medicare covers Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy for approved conditions, and many insurance companies also cover approved conditions. If your condition is not approved by your insurance, we can discuss our special rates. Give us a call at (408) 356–7438. We are happy to discuss your options with you.
Can HBOT help Neuropathy?
Hyperbaric treatments help heal neuropathy by regrowing small blood vessels and nerves that have died from disease, injuries from radiation and aging. Patients often experience numbness and or pain when they start treatment. Hyperbaric treatments most often bring back sensation and make, for example, walking easier and more enjoyable.
Why would a physician consider HBOT?
A physician would consider using hyperbaric chamber therapy under a variety of situations. Physicians most typically refer patients to hyperbarics when the patient is not healing with traditional medical interventions and hyperbaric chamber therapy is approved by Medicare for this condition. Some patients experience significant unresolved pain and unremitting disease states that the mechanisms of hyperbaric oxygen therapy in a hyperbaric chamber are known to affect, such as the down regulation of inflamatory genes. For an example, some patients have experienced severe, unremitting hives with itching, which did not improve with any specialists interventions. Some physicians will consider hyperbaric chamber therapy if the patient has no other good avenues for improving their failing health, and they know the hyperbaric chamber therapy is safe and will not harm the patient.
What is Hypebaric Oxygen Therapy?
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HB0T) is a medical treatment where you inhale 100% oxygen in a chamber with increased atmospheric pressure. HBOT injects 400x the oxygen into your tissues and bones and mobilizes stem cells. It regrows healthy tissues in the brain, blood vessels, skin and bones. It also reduces pain and swelling, and speeds recovery. It is simple, effective and painless.

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Research Shows that HBOT Heals Sores, Injuries and Non-healing Wounds

Research Shows that HBOT Heals Sores, Injuries and Non-healing Wounds

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How Hyperbarics Helps

Increases blood flow and oxygenation

Stimulates tissue repair

Induces stem cell reproduction and mobilization

Stimulates up-regulation of growth hormones

Prevents amputations

What the Research Says

Delayed Radiation Injury

Clinical Effectiveness

Coll Clin Wound

Chronic wound

Enoch Huang

Patient Experiences

David, 64

A wound on his leg, with a skin graft, would not heal. After HBOT, the wound closed.

Amita, 22

Gangrene on her foot would not heal. HBOT prevented amputation.

John, 72

Had skin grafts that had trouble healing. HBOT helped the threatened grafts heal

David, 64

A wound on his leg, with a skin graft, would not heal. After HBOT, the wound closed.

Amita, 22

Gangrene on her foot would not heal. HBOT prevented amputation.

John, 72

Had skin grafts that had trouble healing. HBOT helped the threatened grafts heal

Refer a Patient

You submit patient’s information

We get authorizations

Patient starts HBOT

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Research on Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy