Mayo Clinic's approach
Your hyperbaric oxygen therapy at Mayo Clinic is based on your doctor getting to know you and understanding your health issues. Together, you'll create a broad treatment plan to address all your needs.
Types of conditions treated
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is used for three main reasons:
- Lifesaving. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy can save the lives of people with air or gas embolisms, decompression sickness, or carbon monoxide poisoning.
- Limb saving. This therapy can effectively treat nonhealing wounds. This may help people at risk of losing a limb or those who have had a crush injury.
- Tissue saving. It can help repair tissue damage caused by burns and severe infections. It also helps heal muscle and skin grafts.
At Mayo Clinic, hyperbaric oxygen therapy is typically delivered in a large, rectangular chamber with up to three times the normal air pressure. While in the chamber, you receive 100% oxygen through a lightweight, clear hood. A nurse helps you.
Hyperbaric oxygen treatments usually last about 90 minutes. The chamber is equipped with an entertainment system to make your treatment relaxing. The number of treatments you receive depends on your condition. Some people may require as few as two or three sessions for conditions such as carbon monoxide poisoning. Nonhealing wounds may require up to 40 sessions.
Expertise and rankings
Expertise
Mayo Clinic's board-certified specialists in undersea and hyperbaric medicine administer thousands of treatments each year. Mayo's program is accredited by the Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society in conjunction with The Joint Commission.
State-of-the-art facility
Mayo Clinic has one of the largest hyperbaric oxygen therapy chambers in the United States. It accommodates several people at a time and has provided over 30,000 therapies since opening its doors in 2008.
Teamwork
Hyperbaric medicine doctors work with experts in many other specialties, including vascular medicine, radiation oncology and reconstructive surgical specialties. This multidisciplinary team of specialized experts collaborates on your care.
Research
Mayo doctors and researchers share new medical advancements and treatment guidelines for hyperbaric oxygen therapy. Hyperbaric medicine is part of Mayo's Aerospace Medicine program, which has a long history of research on low-oxygen conditions in flight.
Locations, travel and lodging
Mayo Clinic has major campuses in Phoenix and Scottsdale, Arizona; Jacksonville, Florida; and Rochester, Minnesota. The Mayo Clinic Health System has dozens of locations in several states.
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Costs and insurance
Mayo Clinic works with hundreds of insurance companies and is an in-network provider for millions of people.
In most cases, Mayo Clinic doesn't require a physician referral. Some insurers require referrals or may have additional requirements for certain medical care. All appointments are prioritized on the basis of medical need.
Learn more about appointments at Mayo Clinic.
Please contact your insurance company to verify medical coverage and to obtain any needed authorization prior to your visit. Often, your insurer's customer service number is printed on the back of your insurance card.