Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) is the medical use of 100% oxygen, at a pressure level, higher than atmospheric pressure. The treatment is performed by trained personnel and follows a predetermined protocol which includes continuous monitoring of the patient.
The centre houses, two state of the art Oxygen Chambers, which are capable of treating a wide range of conditions and they rank in standard with the most modern in Europe and the US.
The Hyperbaric Oxygen treatment session
Patients are seated in the chamber and the oxygen delivery apparatus is applied and secured (face mask or hood assembly). The chamber is sealed and the pressurisation process starts, lasting about 7-10 minutes in order to bring the chamber to the required treatment pressure, using compressed air.
Once the pressure is reached, the oxygen supply is opened and after the securing of masks / hood assembly, the patients breathe the 100% oxygen for the duration of the treatment session, 60 minutes. Once the session is over, the masks / hoods are removed and the chamber goes through a depressurisation process (lasting 7 to 10 minutes) to bring it back to atmospheric level.
Treatment session times are as follows:
If it is your first appointment, please ensure that you arrive 20 minutes before the start of the session, for an induction and please bring your completed application form with you together with the letter signed by your GP. (Plus COVID Declaration)
Open from Monday Afternoon right through the week until Saturday morning.
It is advisable to Contact the Office to arrange an appointment.
Please ensure you arrive at least 10 minutes before your session is due to start.
The following are strictly forbidden and NOT ALLOWED into the chamber during the treatment session:
Mobile phones, watch, car keys with batteries, matches, lighters, smoking materials, aerosols, food and alcohol, chemical cleaners, solvents, nail varnish removers, volatile drugs, glass bottle, sealed containers, grease, oil or petrol-based fluid, sugar, fine powders, flammable foods, thermos flasks, electric toys, handbags, body warmers, hearing aids, walkmans, ipods, etc etc.
If you develop a headcold, sinus or ear infection coming up to your treatment session, please call us to cancel your appointment. These ailments render the treatment session unsuitable due to the elevated pressure levels in the chamber.
Background Information
An oxygen chamber is believed to relieve and sometimes cure distressing symptoms which accompany conditions caused by lack of oxygen to the brain.
Treatment works by administering oxygen under intense (Hyperbaric) pressure (Hyperbaric). Among medical experts working in the aviation, space and diving sectors, it is believed to have a more expansive therapeutic role, beyond curing decompression sickness for divers – its original purpose.
Hyperbaric pressure is based on the theory of allowing the body to heal through flooding cells with pure oxygen, which rushes to an area of injury. It is accepted that the compressed oxygen chamber halves the time of healing an injury.
Hyperbaric Therapy is relatively new. It has been spearheaded mainly by a leading expert in the field, Dr. Philip James, PhD, Senior Lecturer at Dundee University in Scotland, and who has visited the Centre in Bandon, Co Cork, and works in close association with B.H.O.C.
Hyperbaric Treatments have had success in treating motor-neurological conditions associated with the temporary lack of oxygen to the brain. These range from Multiple Sclerosis to Stroke and Cerebral Palsy.
Oxygen treatment is also believed to be effective with skin complaints, notably severe ulceration, following amputation or operation, as well as burn injury and skin graft healing.
The Basic principles of hyperbaric oxygen in layman terms.
The principle of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBO) is as follows; body tissue deprived of oxygen will eventually die if oxygen is not restored, to generate the healing process; oxygen is the bodies natural healer.
Tissue can be deprived of oxygen for a whole plethora of reasons; severe injury, burns, after effects of skin-grafting and certain types of surgery.
MS and Stroke victims may also suffer loss of limb movement, may have their speech or coordination severely compromised, this is directly attributed to an area of the brain being deprived of oxygen and thus causing the brain tissue to die.
Dead tissue cannot be revived, however dying tissue can be recovered with startling success by delivering oxygen to the affected area.
The only method known of achieving this function is to place the patient in a pressurised chamber. The patient then breathes 100% pure oxygen under these conditions. The effect of a pressurized environment in the chamber is to dissolve oxygen in high dosage in the blood plasma.
Oxygen is then delivered around the body via the enriched plasma.
In our 20+ Years of operation we have seen first hand the amazing benefits of oxygen in treating certain ailments. Excellent results have also been achieved in treating sports injuries, no matter what the sport or standard.
What is Hyperbaric Medicine ? Background History
Hyperbaric medicine is a specialised theory evolved over the years to treat diverse ailments. In time it was inevitable that hyperbaric doctors would apply this therapy to various civilian ailments.
The current leading specialist in this field is Professor Philip James, Senior Lecturer at Dundee University. We liaise with Dr. James and adopt his parameters and pressure regimes in our Bandon Centre. Dr. James has visited Bandon on two occasions and delivered a lecture supported by slides on the benefits of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy.
From the varied range of conditions treated by HBOT the most common ones are the following (please note this is not an exhaustive list), Physical Traumas and Sports Injuries (muscle tears, sprains, broken bones, ligament damage, hamstring damage, etc.)
Post Surgery Wounds
Radiation Tissue Damage
Chronic, Non-Healing Wounds
Diabetic complications
Multiple Sclerosis
Non Haemorrhagic Stroke
Air and Gas Embolism
Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
Smoke Inhalation
Gas Gangrene
Decompression illness
Exceptional blood loss
Necrotizing small tissue infections
Thermal Burns
Acute Migraine
M.E. (chronic fatigue)
Leg Ulcers
Pressure Sores
Please note: if your condition is not listed above, give us a call and we will assess whether Hyperbaric Oxygen treatment will be suitable and / or beneficial for you.
