Check out the new review article by Ben-Alamer and colleagues about the neuromodulatory effects of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT). The article discusses the ways in which HBOT might promote brain recovery and neurogenesis, and its potentially anti-inflammatory effect. Clinical benefits of HBOT may include enhanced cognitive function, improved recovery from traumatic brain injury and post-concussion syndrome, and symptom reduction in conditions like post-traumatic stress disorder and fibromyalgia. More research is needed, but the paper raises exciting possibilities for medical problems that currently lack effective treatment.
It’s important to make sure that readers understand the definition of “hyperbaric oxygen therapy” (HBOT). The authors of the review article are talking about the benefits achieved from hyperbaric treatments in a “hard sided” hyperbaric chamber at pressures above two times that of sea level atmospheric pressure. They are NOT talking about inflatable “hyperbaric” chambers. Firstly, there are safety problems with these devices. Videos of some inflatable hyperbaric chambers exploding are available on Linkedin and other social media outlets. No inflatable chamber is FDA cleared for use with oxygen, and many of these devices have been illegally imported. However, the real issue with inflatable chambers has to do with the oxygen levels achieved.
I posted a blog on the “math” of hyperbaric oxygen therapy explaining gas partial pressures. I won’t repeat that blog here. There are some nutty comments by readers, and I have left them there for you to ponder. I will simply state that while there can be a local effect of oxygen on wounds, unlike salamanders, in humans, oxygen applied to the skin has no systemic effects. Nor is there a therapeutic benefit from pressure, per se. The important role of increased atmospheric pressure is to increase the number of molecules of oxygen in each breath – called the partial pressure of oxygen. The comments on the “Math of hyperbaric oxygen” blog show how little people understand basic physiology.
As for the review article, it raises fascinating prospects for hyperbaric oxygen therapy. HBOT has gotten a black eye from overuse and improper use for conditions like diabetic foot ulcers. If we are entering a new era in terms of potential uses of HBOT, let’s at least be sure we understand what hyperbaric oxygen therapy IS, and hope we can do a better job of exploring and explaining how it works.
Dr. Fife is a world renowned wound care physician dedicated to improving patient outcomes through quality driven care. Please visit my blog at CarolineFifeMD.com and my Youtube channel at https://www.youtube.com/c/carolinefifemd/videos
The opinions, comments, and content expressed or implied in my statements are solely my own and do not necessarily reflect the position or views of Intellicure or any of the boards on which I serve.
The possibility of treating TBI is with hyperbaric oxygen is great. I listened to a presentation at a wound care conference a few years ago by a doc in the Midwest who was treating children with concussion with impressive results, which may or may not be repeatable? I am a little concerned that the article had a conflict of interest with 2 of the authors working for Aviv scientific.
As always, thank you for a fascinating article