Hyperbaric oxygen therapy
Sharp's Hyperbaric Medicine Center, located at Sharp Grossmont Hospital, provides hyperbaric oxygen therapy for all of San Diego County.
What is hyperbaric oxygen therapy?
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is a medical treatment in which a patient breathes 100 percent oxygen at increased atmospheric pressure in a hyperbaric chamber. Treatment is monitored by specially trained physicians and technicians to ensure optimum safety, comfort and effectiveness.
When oxygen is breathed while under pressure, more of it can be dissolved into the bloodstream. The body can use this extra oxygen to stimulate wound healing, repair bone and tissue damaged by radiation therapy, fight certain infections and enhance the effectiveness of antibiotics.
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy can be used in conjunction with standard medical and surgical care.
Caring for our patients through hyperbaric oxygen therapy
Our Hyperbaric Medicine Center is affiliated with the Divers Alert Network, uniquely preparing us to treat San Diego SCUBA divers who may be suffering from decompression illness, also known as the bends.
Depending on a patient’s diagnosis, our hyperbaric medicine providers may prescribe a series of 10 to 40 treatments, with each treatment lasting 2 hours. Because hyperbaric oxygen therapy is completely painless, patients can spend the treatment reading or resting.
Expert care, right here
The Center's hyperbaric medicine-trained team of physicians, nurses and technicians hold specialized certifications, ensuring you are in qualified hands.
Frequently asked questions
Yes, therapy is provided inside the chamber. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is not a topical oxygen treatment. The patient has to breathe the pressurized oxygen, which the body uses to grow new tissue and fight infection.
Oxygen is carried throughout the body by red blood cells, which are normally carrying all that they can carry. By breathing 100 percent oxygen under pressure inside a hyperbaric chamber, a person receives a more concentrated dose of oxygen and can absorb more into the bloodstream. The body then uses this extra oxygen wherever it is needed the most.
After a number of treatments, you may notice a slight, temporary change in vision, but this should return to normal after the treatments are finished.
Occasionally, patients may have difficulty equalizing their ears, but this is easily resolved with the placement of pressure equalization tubes. Most people find the sensation in their ears similar to when they ride in an airplane. Prior to treatment, our team will go over possible side effects with patients and share tips on how to handle them.
You must get a referral from your primary care doctor. After the referral is received, one of our hyperbaric physicians will consult with you to determine if hyperbaric oxygen therapy is right for you.
For more information
To learn more about Sharp's hyperbaric oxygen therapy services, call the Sharp Grossmont Hospital Hyperbaric Medicine Center at 619-740-4160.