Programs & Services

Center for Wound Healing and Hyperbaric Medicine

Hyper Oxygen Therapy

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is a medical treatment which has been successfully used for treating certain medical conditions, including chronic wounds. Olean General Hospital offers hyperbaric oxygen therapy to selected patients upon physician referral, on either an emergent or outpatient basis.

With the patient lying in a specially designed medical device called a “hyperbaric chamber,” the chamber is pressurized with 100% oxygen. The patient breathes normally while the system pressure is increased. The increased pressure and oxygen concentration supersaturates the blood and tissues with oxygen and adds a dimension to the healing process not previously available in the region.

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy treatment provides one or more of the following effects:

• Promotion of Wound Healing
• Increased Oxygen Delivery to Injured Tissues
• Improved Infection Control
• Formation of New Blood Vessels
• Preservation of Damaged Tissues
• Elimination and Reduction of Effects from Toxic Substances such as Carbon
• Monoxide
• Reduction or Elimination of Arterial Gas Bubble Obstructions

It is important to note that the effects of hyperbaric oxygen therapy result from an oxygen-enriched bloodstream, and not from the oxygen’s direct contact with wounds or skin. This is why wound dressings are usually left in place during treatment.

Our Center may utilize hyperbaric oxygen therapy in the treatment of the following conditions:

• Diabetic Wounds
• Acute Carbon Monoxide Intoxication
• Decompression Illness
• Gas Embolism
• Gas Gangrene
• Acute Traumatic Peripheral Ischemia
• Crush Injury and Suturing of Severed Limbs
• Progressive Necrotizing Infections
• Acute Peripheral Arterial Insufficiency
• Preparation and Preservation of Compromised Skin Grafts
• Chronic Refractory Osteomyelitis
• Osteoradionecrosis
• Soft Tissue Radionecrosis
• Cyanide Poisoning
• Actinomycosis