A General Overview on the Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy: Applications, Mechanisms and Translational Opportunities

Summary & key facts

This review explains hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT). HBOT means breathing pure oxygen at higher pressure (usually 2–3 atmospheres). That raises oxygen in the blood and tissues. The paper reviews how HBOT might work, current uses, possible new research areas (like inflammatory diseases, COVID-19, and cancer), and the therapy's side effects and limits. The authors say more clinical research is needed to define HBOT's roles.

Key facts:

• HBOT delivers pure oxygen at increased pressure, typically 2–3 atmospheres.
• Increased pressure and oxygen with HBOT raise oxygen levels in blood (hyperoxemia) and in tissues (hyperoxia).
• The review reports that HBOT may have antimicrobial, immunomodulatory, and angiogenic effects.
• The authors summarize current indications and the physiological mechanisms that could explain HBOT’s effects.
• The paper identifies possible research areas for HBOT, including inflammatory and systemic diseases, COVID-19, and cancer.
• The review discusses adverse effects and contraindications of HBOT and notes these are important when considering the therapy.
• The authors encourage further clinical research to explore and possibly extend HBOT’s uses.

Abstract

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) consists of using of pure oxygen at increased pressure (in general, 2-3 atmospheres) leading to augmented oxygen levels in the blood (Hyperoxemia) and tissue (Hyperoxia). The increased pressure and oxygen bioavailability might be related to a plethora of applications, particularly in hypoxic regions, also exerting antimicrobial, immunomodulatory and angiogenic properties, among others. In this review, we will discuss in detail the physiological relevance of oxygen and the therapeutical basis of HBOT, collecting current indications and underlying mechanisms. Furthermore, potential areas of research will also be examined, including inflammatory and systemic maladies, COVID-19 and cancer. Finally, the adverse effects and contraindications associated with this therapy and future directions of research will be considered. Overall, we encourage further research in this field to extend the possible uses of this procedure. The inclusion of HBOT in future clinical research could be an additional support in the clinical management of multiple pathologies.

Topics

Autophagy in Disease and Therapy Diabetic Foot Ulcer Assessment and Management Heme Oxygenase-1 and Carbon Monoxide

Categories

Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism Health Sciences Medicine

Tags

Adverse effect Anesthesia Chemistry Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) Disease Hyperbaric oxygen Hyperbaric oxygenation Hyperoxia Infectious disease (medical specialty) Intensive care medicine Internal medicine Lung Medicine Organic chemistry Oxygen Oxygen delivery Oxygen therapy Pathology Pharmacology Surgery