Index Of The Blog
Hyperbaric Chamber Benefits
The remarkable survival story of 9-year-old Curtis Davis is an inspiring one for patients with life-threatening disabilities. Hyperbaric Chamber Benefits
Davis, a resident of New Iberia, was involved in a serious car accident in 2017. The impact had caused serious damage to the left side of his skull.
“The left side of his skull was crushed”, the child’s father, Brad Davis said as he recounted the incident. Curtis was immediately shifted to a local hospital wherein an emergency craniotomy was performed to ease the inflammation in the damaged part of the brain.
During this procedure, the surgeons had to remove a small bit of the skull that was restricting the swelling in the brain as any delay in surgery could have had life-threatening consequences.
Curtis had to struggle hard during his recovery phase as his vision, mobility, and communicative abilities were severely affected post the surgery.
During the initial three months, Adrienne Davis, Curtis’s mother was distraught as all her queries to the doctors regarding her child’s health went unanswered.
After three months, Curtis started communicating with his parents. The sudden improvement in his medical condition encouraged his parents to initiate necessary steps that could hasten his recovery process.
Thereafter, Curtis started undergoing regular sessions of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT), five times a week and has continued the treatment till date.
Adrienne and Brad were pleased with their child’s progress, as Curtis was able to resume his third grade on time.
Currently, Curtis is doing exceptionally well in his studies and Science happens to be his favorite subject.
“I have to get in this little spaceship thing that zips up and then oxygen puts air in it that blows it up like a balloon,” Curtis excitedly describes his experience in the hyperbaric chamber when asked about his treatment.
Adrienne and Brad are thoroughly satisfied with their child’s progress and firmly believe that HBOT is the best available treatment for patients with brain injuries.
Listed herewith are a few aspects of hyperbaric oxygen therapy that will enable individuals to get a better understanding of hyperbaric chamber benefits.
What Is Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy?
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is a non-invasive treatment solution wherein pressurized pure oxygen is used to provide relief to patients with varied ailments.
How Is Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Administered To Patients?
During an HBOT session, the patient is placed in a pressurized compartment known as a hyperbaric chamber. Thereon, hyperbaric experts administer pure oxygen to the patient at pressures that are 1.2 – 3 times greater than normal atmospheric pressure at sea-level.
The pressurized oxygen instantly dissolves into the body fluids of the individual and boosts the blood flow to all parts of the brain that are damaged or dormant due to oxygen-deprivation. The oxygen-rich mixture in the brain is believed to accelerate fresh cell growth and restore impaired cognitive functions.
This therapy was initially used to treat naval scuba divers for decompression sickness in the early 1960s.
Over time, researchers discovered numerous other hyperbaric chamber benefits that could aid patients in their recovery from serious health conditions such as:
- Traumatic brain injury.
- Post-traumatic stress disorder.
- Parkinson’s disease.
- Alzheimer’s disease.
- Carbon monoxide poisoning.
- Gas embolism.
- Radiation Injury.
- Thermal burn injury.
- Autism Spectrum disorder
- Toxic poisoning.
- Diabetic ulcers.
- Non-healing wounds.
- Osteomyelitis
- Compromised skin grafts and flaps.
- Acute anemia.
- Idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss.
- Crush injury.
- Intra-cranial abscess.
- Gas gangrene.
Is HBOT An Effective Treatment For Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)?
Research studies indicate that an estimated 5.3 million individuals ail from TBI related conditions in the United States. Patients with TBI are known to experience severe behavioral, cognitive and communicative disabilities.
Also Know: 5 Most Powerful Full-Size Sedans
Initially, the cost of undergoing HBOT may appear higher when compared to conventional treatment options. However, the hyperbaric chamber benefits that patients experience post HBOT therapy far outweigh the cost of the treatment.
Currently, medical professionals are increasingly opting to use HBOT to treat patients with complications due to TBI. The pressurized oxygen administered to TBI patients during hyperbaric oxygen therapy is known to result in:
- Increased tissue oxygenation: DuringHBOT, the patient inhales pressurized 100% pure oxygen that reached the injured tissues of the brain. The increased brain tissue oxygenation that occurs during the treatment is known to induce a sense of wellness and decrease mortality rates.
- Reduced inflammation: Patients with TBI are affected by a condition known as acute inflammatory response that causes cytokine release, microvascular adherence, and activation of neutrophils.
Regular HBOT therapy sessions are known to reduce inflammation considerably. This alternative treatment helps patients such as Curtis Davis, suppress inflammation-induced complications such as brain edema, blood-brain barrier leakage, and cell apoptosis.
- Decreased Intracranial Pressure: Most patients afflicted by TBI are susceptible to raised levels of intracranial pressure (ICP). Elevated ICP levels can cause serious disability or even death in some cases.
Patients undergoing hyperbaric oxygen therapy are believed to have displayed a significant reduction in their ICP levels post their treatment.
The incredible story of Curtis Davis’s recovery post his HBOT is a fine example of how a hyperbaric chamber benefits patients and helps them counter serious health afflictions.
Also Know: Car with an Automatic Gearbox
