Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy: Effect on Wound Healing and Traumatic Brain Injuries

Abstract

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy is a new form of treatment being used to heal and help improve symptoms of traumatic brain injuries, external wounds, and strokes. HBOT helps to completely saturate hemoglobin with oxygen, which then allows for a larger capacity of oxygen to be delivered to the damaged tissues. Tissue wounds benefit from this HBOT because of the increase in oxygen supply to the damaged area, helping to combat hypoxia, which is preventing proper wound healing. The increase in oxygen allows for an increase in myofibroblast differentiation to allow the healing process to continue. HBOT has also proven to increase cognitive function for post-stroke patients by increasing the amount of oxygen and energy being delivered to the brain. This therapy has also been used to treat patients with Alzheimer\u27s disease, helping to improve brain function at the cellular level