Below we present the main conditions that can benefit from hyperbaric chamber treatment at our clinic.
The European Committee for Hyperbaric Medicine (ECHM) classifies indications into three types, according to the level of evidence and recommendation.
ECHM recommendation types
Type 1
The use of hyperbaric oxygen as the main treatment is strongly recommended.
Type 2
The use of hyperbaric oxygen as the main treatment is suggested.
Type 3
The use of hyperbaric oxygen as a treatment is considered reasonable.
Indications according to the ECHM
| Condition | Level of evidence | ECHM level of agreement |
|---|---|---|
| TYPE 1 | ||
| CO poisoning | A | Very high |
| Open fractures with crush injury | A | Very high |
| Prevention of osteoradionecrosis after dental extraction | A | Very high |
| Osteoradionecrosis (mandibular) | A | Very high |
| Soft-tissue radionecrosis (cystitis and proctitis) | A | Very high |
| Decompression sickness | B | Very high |
| Gas embolism | B | Very high |
| Anaerobic or mixed bacterial infection | B | Very high |
| Sudden deafness | A | Very high |
| TYPE 2 | ||
| Diabetic foot ulcers | A | Very high |
| Necrosis of the femoral head | A | Very high |
| Compromised skin and musculocutaneous grafts | B | Very high |
| Central retinal artery occlusion | B | Very high |
| Crush injury without fracture | B | High |
| Osteoradionecrosis (bones other than the mandible) | B | High |
| Radiation-induced soft-tissue injuries (other than cystitis and proctitis) | B | High |
| Surgery and implants in irradiated tissue (preventive treatment) | B | High |
| Ischaemic ulcers | B | High |
| Chronic refractory osteomyelitis | B | High |
| Second-degree burns affecting more than 20% of the body surface | B | High |
| Pneumatosis cystoides intestinalis | B | High |
| Neuroblastoma, stage IV | B | High |
| TYPE 3 | ||
| Brain injury (acute and chronic traumatic brain injury, chronic stroke, post-anoxic encephalopathy) | B | High |
| Radiation-induced injuries of the larynx | B | High |
| Radiation-induced injuries of the CNS | B | High |
| Reperfusion syndrome after a vascular procedure | B | High |
| Limb replantation | B | High |
| Systemic venous or pressure ulcers | B | High |
| Physicochemical disc spondylitis | B | High |
| Interstitial cystitis | B | High |
Under study or experimental
In addition to the indications recognised by the ECHM, the benefits of hyperbaric oxygen therapy are being investigated in the following conditions, grouped by medical specialty.
Rheumatology
- Fibromyalgia
- Lupus
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Rheumatic diseases
- Susac syndrome
- Refractory vasculitis
- Raynaud's disease
Neurology
- Trigeminal neuralgia
- Recovery after stroke
Vascular
- Peripheral arterial disease
- Idiopathic lymphoedema
Gastroenterology
- Crohn's disease
- Inflammatory bowel disease
- Ulcerative colitis
Orthopaedics
- Avascular necrosis of the hip
- Bone fracture consolidation
- Osteoarthritis
- Osteoarthrosis
Ophthalmology
- Diabetic retinopathy
Dermatology
- Compromised skin grafts and musculoskeletal flaps
- Pyoderma gangrenosum