The Hyperbaric Oxygen Unit (HBO) at the Misericordia opened in April of 1994 in response to an initiative by the Craniofacial Osseointegration and Maxillofacial Prosthetic Rehabilitation Unit (C.O.M.P.R.U.) and Respiratory Care.

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy is the medical use of 100% oxygen at increased atmospheric pressure. This increased pressure provides more oxygen to the body than is possible under normal atmospheric conditions. Most treatments range between two and three atmospheres of pressure, typically referred to as “diving” because the pressure change closely approximates scuba diving. This increase of pressure dissolves more oxygen into body tissue and blood so that the body is saturated with more oxygen than normal to enhance healing.

There are 14 areas of pathology where efficacy is well documented by over 60 scientific studies (see reference list at the end of this guide). They are:

1. Air/Gas embolism
2. Carbon monoxide poisoning, smoke inhalation/cyanide poisoning
   
3. Clostridial myonecrosis
4. Crush injury, compartment syndrome, acute traumatic ischemias
5. Wound healing problems
6. Necrotizing soft tissue infections
7. Refractory osteomyelitis
8. Radiation tissue damage: Osteoradionecrosis
9. High risk post-irradiation dental extractions
10. Therapeutically irradiated patients requiring osseointegrated implants
11. Compromised Skin grafts and flaps
12. Decompression sickness
13. Exceptional blood loss anemia
14. Reperfusion Injuries - Frostbite