A General Overview on the Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy: Applications, Mechanisms and Translational Opportunities

Editors: Costantino Balestra, Jacek Kot
PMCID: PMC8465921  PMID: 34577787

Abstract

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) consists of using pure oxygen at increased pressure (in general, 2–3 atmospheres), leading to augmented oxygen levels in the blood (Hyperoxemia) and tissue (Hyperoxia). The increased pressure and oxygen bioavailability might be related to a plethora of applications, particularly in hypoxic regions, also exerting antimicrobial, immunomodulatory and angiogenic properties, among others. In this review, we will discuss in detail the physiological relevance of oxygen and the therapeutic basis of HBOT, collecting current indications and underlying mechanisms. Furthermore, potential areas of research will also be examined, including inflammatory and systemic maladies, COVID-19 and cancer. Finally, the adverse effects and contraindications associated with this therapy, as well as future research directions, will be considered. Overall, we encourage further research in this field to extend the possible uses of this procedure. The inclusion of HBOT in future clinical research could be an additional support in the clinical management of multiple pathologies.

Keywords: hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT), Hyperoxia, wound healing, antimicrobial properties, Coronavirus Disease-19 (COVID-19)

The full research article is attached. 

Source: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8465921/

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