The tissue in your body requires an adequate oxygen supply to survive. When tissue is damaged due to a medical condition or an injury, it requires even more oxygen to sustain and repair itself. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) boosts the amount of oxygen in your blood, which temporarily restores your body’s normal levels of tissue function and blood gases, and increases its capacity to fight infection and promote healing. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy has been hailed as an effective way to accelerate healing in a minimally invasive manner. 

At Broward ENT & Aesthetics, our mission is simple: to restore health, improve confidence and enhance quality of life. We believe in taking a holistic approach to wellness and continuously searching for the newest, safest and most effective treatments to offer our patients.

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is a highly versatile treatment that can be used to remedy a number of medical conditions while you sit back, relax and just breathe.

Our founder, board-certified otolaryngologist and ENT surgeon Dr. Wilson DuMornay, is proud to offer this exciting therapy to Fort Lauderdale and the surrounding communities. Contact us today to learn more about your options and determine whether this service is right for you.

Why Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Is Performed

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy enhances the body’s natural healing mechanism via the inhalation of pure oxygen in a total body chamber in which atmospheric pressure is increased. HBOT is used to treat a wide range of medical conditions and injuries, often as part of a comprehensive medical care plan. You may benefit from HBOT if you have one of the following conditions:

  • Anemia
  • Burns
  • Gangrene
  • Infection of skin or bone that has caused tissue death
  • Non-healing wounds
  • Bubbles of air in blood vessels, also referred to as arterial gas embolisms
  • Radiation injuries
  • Skin grafts or skin flaps that are at risk of tissue death
  • Decompression sickness

What to Expect During the Treatment

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is administered in a state-of-the-art, single-person (monoplace) chamber. You will lie or sit on a table or chair located inside the chamber. The unit then slides into a clear tube, which is about seven feet long. The chamber will be sealed and then filled with pressurized oxygen, which will increase to approximately two to three times the normal air pressure. You may notice a mild discomfort in your ears, similar to the plugged feeling experienced when on an airplane or traveling at a high elevation. These sensations are normal and may be relieved by yawning or swallowing.

During the procedure, we want you to be as relaxed as possible. You’ll be asked to breathe normally during the treatment. You may watch TV, listen to music or catch up on your favorite podcast. Please be aware you will be able to speak to the therapist at any time during the session, and the therapist will be able to see you and talk to you at all times.

The session itself will last anywhere from 30 minutes to two hours. After therapy is complete, technicians will slowly depressurize the chamber and you will be discharged from the unit.

Preparing for Your Visit

Only an experienced healthcare provider should prescribe hyperbaric oxygen therapy. Before undergoing treatment, you will have a consultation with Dr. DuMornay to confirm you are a suitable candidate for this therapy. Please inform Dr. DuMornay if you are pregnant or have one or more of the following:

  • Untreated cancer
  • A history of spontaneous collapsed lung(s)
  • Untreated collapsed lung(s)
  • Chronic sinusitis
  • Current upper respiratory infection
  • Chronic obstructive lung disease (such as emphysema, asthma, bronchitis, etc.)
  • Heart disease with congestive heart failure
  • High fever
  • History of chest or ear surgery
  • Current viral infection

Before your HBOT session, you will be asked to remove specific articles of clothing, such as your shoes. This is done for your safety. The treatment is performed in an oxygen-rich environment, which can cause fire if a spark or flame ignites a source of fuel. To reduce your risk, you will not be permitted to take items such as lighters or battery-powered devices into the chamber. In addition, you may need to remove hair and skin care products that are petroleum based, which can be sources of excess fuel and potential fire hazards.

Potential Side Effects

HBOT is a generally safe procedure and complications are rare. The risks will be discussed with you in detail before you sign your consent form for therapy. Risks of HBOT include:

  • Temporary vision problems, called myopia, caused by temporary eye lens changes
  • Lung collapse, or barotrauma, due to air pressure changes
  • Ringing of the ears, or middle ear injuries, including leaking fluid or eardrum ruptures
  • Lightheadedness or nausea
  • Seizures resulting from too much oxygen in your central nervous system
  • Fire ignition due to the oxygen-rich environment of the treatment chamber

Individuals with diabetes may experience a drop in blood sugar during hyperbaric oxygen therapy, which may require blood sugar monitoring and specific interventions to prevent or treat. In some patients with a history of severe congestive heart failure, hyperbaric oxygen therapy may worsen the condition by producing pulmonary edema, resulting in the treatment being discontinued.

After the Procedure

Once your HBOT session is complete, you may experience mild side effects, such as lightheadedness or hunger. These effects are normal and generally subside after a short period of time. Your normal activity should not be limited following treatment.

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy will likely require more than one session to achieve its maximum benefits. The number of treatments needed will vary depending upon the extent of your injury or condition, and how well your body responds to therapy.

Contact Broward ENT & Aesthetics

At Broward ENT & Aesthetics, our hyperbaric oxygen therapy treatment is designed to help heal injuries by increasing the amount of oxygen the body can carry to damaged areas. Whether your tissue damage is minor or more significant, board-certified otolaryngologist Dr. Wilson DuMornay can help improve your health and quality of life with the latest medical techniques. To find out how HBOT can help you, call us at (954) 533-9822 to schedule a consultation and get started today!

Schedule a consultation today!