Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Patient Education HYPERBARIC OXYGEN THERAPY A guide to help you learn about and get ready for your treatment. About this booklet… Hyperbaric oxygen therapy can be intimidating for you and your family. This booklet was written by members of your hyperbaric team to help answer some of your questions about hyperbaric oxygen therapy. The staff at the Department of Hyperbaric Medicine is here to help you heal and recover. They will be pleased to answer questions at any time – no question is too simple to ask. Humility of Mary Health Partners – St Elizabeth and St Joseph Health Centers Page 1 Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy What is hyperbaric oxygen therapy? Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is a painless treatment that increases the amount of oxygen in your body. This is done by breathing pure oxygen while you are in a hyperbaric oxygen chamber. A hyperbaric oxygen chamber is an enclosed chamber that you lie inside. The pressure inside the chamber is gradually increased as you breathe pure oxygen. The increased pressure inside the chamber allows your tissues to take up more oxygen. More oxygen into your tissues helps your body heal faster by speeding up the formation of new tissue and fighting infection. Here at St Elizabeth and St Joseph Health Centers, your treatment will be in a “monoplace” chamber. You will be inside the chamber and a nurse/technician will be outside in the room. The Hyperbaric Chamber The hyperbaric chamber has a clear acrylic body so you will be able to see through it. The nurse will always be in the room and you will be able to see and talk to them at any time. You will be able to see the chamber before you begin your first hyperbaric oxygen treatment. Humility of Mary Health Partners – St Elizabeth and St Joseph Health Centers Page 2 Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy What is hyperbaric oxygen therapy used for? Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is used to treat: Poor wound healing in selected wounds Carbon monoxide poisoning Gas gangrene, necrotizing soft tissue infections Air and gas embolisms Soft tissue and bone radiation injuries Chronic bone infections Intracranial abscess Compromised skin grafts and flaps Crush injuries, acute traumatic peripheral ischemia Diabetic ulcers of the lower extremities How do I get ready to go into the hyperbaric chamber? Before you start your treatment: Go to the bathroom Put on the scrubs or gown provided to you by the staff You cannot wear: Contact lenses, dentures, or hearing aids Jewelry Hair sprays or other hair products Ointments Makeup Nail polish Deodorant Perfume or colognes Lotions And any electronic devices of any kind Humility of Mary Health Partners – St Elizabeth and St Joseph Health Centers Page 3 Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy You cannot chew gum or suck on candies in the chamber. You can wear your eyeglasses. We will provide you a bottle of water to drink if needed. We can also provide you with a urinal or bed pan to use in the chamber if needed. Tell the nurse right away if you become nauseated or have sinus congestion before the treatment. Sorry, no books or magazines are allowed inside the chamber. However, a television is available for viewing and you are able to hear the sound inside the chamber. What are the risks? There are potential risks to having hyperbaric oxygen therapy. Your doctor and the hyperbaric staff will talk to you before you agree to have the treatment. While in the chamber you will breathe pure oxygen which is flammable. We take every precaution to make sure nothing that could cause a spark is taken into the chamber with you. You will be given special scrubs or a gown to wear during your treatment. It is made of 100% cotton to reduce the risk of static electricity. Please do not wear any other clothing underneath the provided clothing without the approval of the hyperbaric staff. Most dressings are approved to wear into a hyperbaric chamber. Please advise the staff of any new dressings applied to your wound to see if it is all right to wear it during your treatment. Humility of Mary Health Partners – St Elizabeth and St Joseph Health Centers Page 4 Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy What else do I need to know? Do not drink anything carbonated such as soda pop within 1 hour of the start of your treatment as this could cause stomach pain. Avoid food and drinks with caffeine as well before your treatment. Do not smoke during the course of your treatment. Smoking reduces the amount of oxygen your blood can carry and will reduce the effectiveness of the treatment. If you are unable to stop smoking, please refrain from smoking 3 hours before and after the treatment to maximize the benefits of the therapy. If you are unable to meet these requirements please let us know before beginning therapy. Please do not drink alcoholic beverages before your treatment as this can increase your chances of having a seizure inside the chamber. Advise the hyperbaric staff of any cold or flu like symptoms you may be having before going into the hyperbaric chamber. Useful telephone numbers: St. Elizabeth Hyperbaric Department: (330) 480-3431 St. Joseph Hyperbaric Department: (330) 841-7614 Frequently asked questions… How long does the treatment last? A typical treatment last about 90 minutes, but be prepared to be in the department for 2 hours to allow time for changing clothes and physician assessment before and after treatment Humility of Mary Health Partners – St Elizabeth and St Joseph Health Centers Page 5 Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Will I need to sign a consent? You will be asked to sign a consent for hyperbaric oxygen therapy. Before this, the doctor and staff will discuss with you and explain the risks and benefits of the treatment. What will I feel during hyperbaric oxygen therapy? As the chamber is pressurized, you may feel a rise in the temperature inside the chamber. You will also hear the oxygen coming into the chamber. You will feel fullness in your ears as your eardrums are exposed to the pressure change. This feeling is similar to that felt in an airplane. The nurses will teach you how to handle this pressure by using maneuvers to clear your ears open. Never allow your eardrums to become painful let the staff member running the chamber know as soon as possible if you are unable to clear your ears. Always tell the staff if you are having any problems clearing your ears or if you: Feel nauseous Have tingling in your hands or face Have double vision What do I have to do during the treatment? You do not have to do anything during the treatment. During the treatment you may lie on your back or side and you may adjust your position if you wish to. You will be able to watch television or talk to the staff during the treatment. What are the side effects of the treatment? Some side effects may include nausea, earache, and temporary vision changes during your treatment. Do not change your eyeglass prescription because these vision changes are only temporary and will return to your baseline following the end of treatment. Humility of Mary Health Partners – St Elizabeth and St Joseph Health Centers Page 6 Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Why is my wound painful? The treatment causes an increase in the flow of blood to the wound. This may increase the pain, but is also a sign of the healing process. There may also be some nerve regeneration occurring and this also may increase some pain to the wound, but this is also a sign of the healing process. What if I can’t keep my appointment? If for any reason you would need to cancel or reschedule your appointment, please call the Department of Hyperbaric Medicine as soon as possible. The department has a voicemail service that is available 24 hours a day. Where are the Hyperbaric Departments located? St Elizabeth Health Center: The Department of Hyperbaric Medicine is located on the ground floor of the main campus (Downtown Youngstown) of St. Elizabeth Health Center inside the Wound Care Center. Please park in the Wound Care/HBO parking lot located on north side of Park Avenue just after turning of Belmont Ave. St. Joseph Health Center: The Department of Hyperbaric Medicine is located on the ground floor of St. Joseph Health Center. Please enter through the “A” entrance on the east end of the building. There are four parking spots across from the “A” entrance reserved for hyperbaric patients. Belmont Ave. Cardiac Rehab. HBO Parking Main Entrance Handicap Parking Lot Humility of Mary Health Partners – St Elizabeth and St Joseph Health Centers Park Ave. St Elizabeth Health Center Parmalee Ave. Hyperbaric Parking A Entrance St Joseph Health Center Eastland Ave. NO PARKING $4.00 Parking Lot We provide token If HBO lot is full Employee Lot Parking Deck Page 7 Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy If you have any questions about your hyperbaric oxygen treatments, please ask a member of the hyperbaric staff at any time. We hope you find this pamphlet to be useful. Thank you for choosing Humility of Mary Health Partners to participate in your care. Notes: Humility of Mary Health Partners – St Elizabeth and St Joseph Health Centers Page 8 Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Hyperbaric Chamber Schedule Month________________ Sunday Monday Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Friday Saturday Month________________ Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Humility of Mary Health Partners – St Elizabeth and St Joseph Health Centers Page 9