SUMMARY OF INTERNATIONAL INDICATIONS FOR HYPERBARIC OXYGEN THERAPY

(from Jain, K.K. (1989)Oxygen in Physiology and Medicine. Thomas, Springfield --taken from U.S., Chinese, Japanese, and Russian HBO Committees)

1. Decompression Sickness

2. Air embolism

3. Poisoning: carbon monoxide, cyanide, hydrogen sulfide, carbon tetrachloride.

4. Treatment of certain infections: gas gangrene, acute necrotizing fascitis, refractory mycoses, leprosy, osteomyelitis.

5. Plastic and reconstructive surgery: For nonhealing wounds
As an aid to the survival of skin flaps with marginal circulation
As an adjunct to the treatment of burns

6. Traumatology: crush injuries, compartment syndrome, soft tissue sports injuries

7. Orthopedics: nonunion of fractures, bone grafts, osteoradionecrosis

8. Peripheral vascular disease: shock, myocardial ischemia, aid to cardiac surgery, ischemic gangrene, ischemic leg pain

9. Neurological: stroke, multiple sclerosis, migraine, cerebral edema, multi-infarct dementia, spinal cord injury and vascular diseases of the spinal cord, brain abscess, peripheral neuropathy, radiation myelitis, vegetative coma

10. Hematology: sickle cell crises, severe blood loss anemia

11. Ophthalmology: occlusion of central artery of retina

12. Gastro-intestinal: gastric ulcer, necrotizing enteroscolitis, paralytic ileus, pneumotoides cystoides intestinalis, hepatitis

13. For enhancement of radiosensitivity of malignant tumors

14. Otorhinolaryngology: sudden deafness, acute acoustic trauma, labyrinthitis, Meniere's disease, malignant otitis externa (chronic infection)

15. Lung diseases: lung abscess, pulmonary embolism (adjunct to surgery)

16. Endocrine: diabetes

17. Obstetrics: complicated pregnancy--diabetes, eclampsia, heart disease, placental hypoxia, fetal hypoxia, congenital heart disease of the neonate

18. Asphyxiation: drowning, smoke inhalation

19. Aid to rehabilitation: spastic hemiplegia of stroke, paraplegia, chronic myocardial insufficiency, peripheral vascular disease.