Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT)

Hyperbaric Medicine for Wound Care

Depending on your diagnosis, you may be required to have Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy. This advanced medical treatment is greatly improving outcomes of certain types of non-healing wounds. Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy is a treatment in which you breathe 100 percent oxygen inside a comfortable, see-through chamber.

This therapy quickly delivers high concentrations of oxygen to the bloodstream which helps wounds heal and effectively fights certain types of infections. it also stimulates the growth of new blood vessels and improves circulation.

We are proud to offer the largest hyperbaric chambers available at our Beverly Hospital location. Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy is used to treat a variety of conditions, including:

• Diabetic wounds of the lower extremity
• Enhancement of healing in selected problem wounds
• Skins grafts and flaps
• Osteomyelitis or bone infections
• Necrotizing soft issue infections
• Radiation tissue damage
• Crush injuries
• Acute traumatic injury

Preparing for Treatment

When your doctor prescribes HBOT, you receive care at the Wound and Hyperbaric Medicine Center at the Cummings Center. First, you complete an initial consultation and exam.

From there, your doctor provides complete instructions for your care. This includes your treatment plan and schedule. Do not smoke or use any tobacco products during your entire course of therapy. Tobacco use will prolong or prevent wound healing. It also causes blood vessels to constrict, which reduces the amount of oxygen that gets delivered to tissue.

What to Expect During Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy

Allow two hours for each treatment session.

When you arrive at the center, we give you a cotton gown to wear. For safety reasons, no other clothing may be worn inside the hyperbaric oxygen therapy chamber.

After you change clothes, you enter the chamber. This can be a large tube designed to fit one person or a room that treats more than one person at a time.

You can rest and relax during your treatment.

What Not to Bring or Wear

Certain items aren’t allowed inside the hyperbaric chamber. Please don’t wear these products:

• Aftershave
• Alcohol or petroleum-based products
• Flammable materials
• Hairspray/hair oils
• Hearing aids
• Makeup
• Metallic or titanium eyeglass frames, jewelry or watches
• Nail polish
• Perfume
• Wigs or hairpieces

Please don’t bring these items:

• Cell phones or pagers
• Food, gum or candy 
• Heat-producing items (i.e., cigarettes, heating pad, lighters)
• Metallic coins or keys

Ask your hyperbaric doctor for advice on wearing contact lenses during treatment.