ENT indications for Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy

B-ENT. 2016;Suppl 26(1):87-106.

Abstract

ENT indications for Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy. Hyperbaric Oxygen (HBO) therapy is a treatment where patients breathe 100% oxygen while exposed to high environmental pressure in a hyperbaric chamber. This hyperoxygenation has several beneficial effects as an adjunctive treatment in a number of ENT-related conditions and diseases. These can be summarized as anti-ischaemic effects (delivery of oxygen to otherwise ischaemic tissues, reduction of ischaemia-reperfusion damage), anti-infectious effects (bacteriostasis, improved leucocyte phagocytosis bactericidal activity and optimization of antibiotic therapy) and wound-healing effects (stimulation of granulation tissue formation and stabilization). Since HBO therapy has a clear physiologic rationale, a demonstrated effect (although difficult to "prove" with placebo controlled randomized trials) in certain indications and certain side-effects, it is proposed that it should be considered an integral part of the (combined surgical and pharmacological) treatment of patients, and not simply as a supplementation of oxygen. Furthermore, the importance of a well-trained medical and technical staff to ensure proper selection and the correct follow-up of patients should not be underestimated.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Bacteria, Anaerobic
  • Decompression Sickness / therapy
  • Hearing Loss, Sudden / therapy
  • Humans
  • Hyperbaric Oxygenation / methods*
  • Ludwig's Angina / therapy
  • Osteoradionecrosis / therapy
  • Otitis Externa / therapy
  • Otorhinolaryngologic Diseases / therapy*
  • Sinusitis / therapy
  • Surgical Flaps
  • Surgical Wound Infection / microbiology
  • Surgical Wound Infection / therapy*
  • Wound Infection / microbiology
  • Wound Infection / therapy