Hyperbaric Medicine
Though hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) has been in use for decades, many people are unfamiliar with this treatment option, which is frequently used in patients with chronic, non-healing or slow-to-heal wounds.
Patients with diabetic wounds, burns, bedsores and other health issues may be candidates for hyperbaric oxygen therapy at Santa Rosa Wound Care and Hyperbaric Medicine in Pace, FL.
Wound Care In Milton/Pace, FL
Call (850) 983-4493
How Does HBOT Work?
The average breath contains only about 20% oxygen. During hyperbaric oxygen therapy, patients breathe 100% oxygen, which results in the blood circulating a significantly higher amount of oxygen throughout the body – including the wound site.
When wound sites receive a higher amount of oxygen, the body has a better chance of repairing the wound naturally. Higher concentrations in oxygen allow the body to become more efficient in fighting off infection and releasing growth factors and stem cells, which are critical in the wound repair process.
Am I a Candidate for Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy?
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy may be beneficial for patients with bone infection, bedsores, diabetic foot ulcers, burns and other types of complex or slow-to-heal wounds. The therapy is typically prescribed in tandem with other modalities, including antibiotics, which may help speed up the healing process.
Wound care specialists may use HBOT to treat the following conditions (and others) in our hyperbaric medicine facility, located in Pace, FL:
- Air or gas embolisms
- Bedsores
- Burns
- Carbon monoxide poisoning
- Crush injuries
- Cyanide poisoning
- Decompression sickness (DCS, “the bends”)
- Diabetic foot ulcers and other difficult-to-heal wounds
- Gangrene
- Injuries from radiation therapy or thermal burns
- Osteoradionecrosis
- Soft tissue radionecrosis
- Osteomyelitis (bone infection)
- Refractory osteomyelitis
- Skin grafts
- Traumatic injuries
Only a doctor can determine if hyperbaric oxygen therapy is appropriate for your wound. Schedule an appointment at Santa Rosa Wound Care and Hyperbaric Medicine to learn more. Call (850) 983-4493.
What It’s Like to Undergo HBOT
As a hyperbaric patient at Santa Rosa Wound Care and Hyperbaric Medicine, here’s what you can expect:
- Patients rest in a comfortable pressurized chamber that is filled with pure, 100% oxygen.
- While the chamber is completely closed off from the rest of the room, it is transparent, allowing patients to clearly see the rest of the room. A technician is present at all times.
- If claustrophobia is a problem, a mild sedative may be administered.
- During HBOT, oxygen saturates the body, providing a boost to the immune system and stimulating the body’s natural repair processes.
- You may notice a slight pressure increase in the ears, similar to taking off in an airplane.
- Treatment sessions typically last two hours. Most patients will go through 20 sessions or more.
Have more questions? See a wound care provider near you. Santa Rosa Wound Care and Hyperbaric Medicine is located just a brief 17-minute drive from the main Santa-Rosa-Medical-Center campus.
See a Wound Care Specialist Near You
If you have a slow-to-heal or non-healing wound, you may wish to see a wound care specialist near you in the Santa Rosa County area. A referral from a primary care provider is usually not required. During your initial appointment with a wound care specialist, you may find out more about hyperbaric oxygen therapy and whether or not it’s right for you. To begin the process, call (850) 983-4493. Santa Rosa Wound Care and Hyperbaric Medicine proudly serves patients in Pace, Milton and throughout the greater Santa Rosa County region.