Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBO)

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBO) at ALMEDEA uses a pressurised multi-place chamber — a German-made Haux Starmed 2200/5.5/XL — to deliver 100% pure oxygen at 1.4 bar overpressure while you breathe through a half-mask for ninety minutes. At elevated pressure, oxygen dissolves directly into blood plasma and tissue fluids, reaching areas that red blood cells cannot easily access under normal atmospheric conditions. The clinic holds a current Czech indication catalogue covering both acute emergencies (carbon monoxide poisoning, decompression sickness, gas embolism) and chronic conditions (diabetic foot, post-radiation damage, sudden hearing loss, wound healing). Sessions are supervised throughout by qualified hyperbaric physicians MUDr. Kriška Peter and MUDr. Krišková Zdeňka, and the facility operates twenty-four hours a day.

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBO) is a medically recognised treatment in which a patient breathes pure 100% oxygen inside a sealed chamber pressurised to above atmospheric levels. At ALMEDEA in Ústí nad Labem, the chamber is a Haux-Life-Support Starmed 2200/5.5/XL — a multi-place unit engineered in Germany to a maximum working pressure of 0.55 MPa (approximately 5.5 bar absolute). Standard treatment sessions run at 1.4 bar overpressure, equivalent to the ambient pressure found at 14 metres below sea level. At this elevated pressure, oxygen solubility in blood plasma rises dramatically — from the tiny fraction dissolved under normal conditions to concentrations high enough to sustain tissue oxygenation even where capillary blood flow is compromised. This mechanism underlies HBO's effectiveness across a broad spectrum of clinical indications. **Session protocol (total ~120 minutes)** 1. *Compression (15–20 min)* — The chamber is gradually pressurised with filtered air. Patients experience a warmth of 2–3°C and a sensation of ear pressure similar to descending in an aircraft. Staff guide ear equalisation (Valsalva manoeuvre, swallowing); Sanorin nasal drops are recommended beforehand for patients with any nasal congestion. 2. *Isopressure — active treatment (90 min)* — The chamber holds at 1.4 bar. Patients put on their oxygen half-mask and breathe 100% O₂ for the full ninety minutes. Two-channel audio entertainment (radio/music) is piped in via headphones. A camera monitoring system allows the supervising physician to observe all patients throughout. An emergency red alarm button is available in-chamber. 3. *Decompression (10–15 min)* — Pressure returns to ambient; temperature drops slightly. A pre-chamber allows any patient to exit early if needed without interrupting others. **Indications (Czech national catalogue, valid from 1.1.2026)** *Acute:* carbon monoxide poisoning, smoke inhalation, decompression sickness, air/water pressure effects, gas embolism, post-infusion/transfusion complications, severe anaerobic soft-tissue infections (gas gangrene, fasciitis, myonecrosis). *Chronic (courses of 30–80 sessions per year):* post-radiation tissue damage (osteoradionecrosis, radiation cystitis/enteritis/proctitis, CNS radiation necrosis); diabetic ulcers with neurological or peripheral circulatory complications; ischaemic ulcers from arteriosclerosis; neuroblastoma stage IV; sudden sensorineural hearing loss; problematic skin grafts and muscle flaps; refractory chronic osteomyelitis; avascular necrosis of the femoral head; algoneurodystrophy; interstitial cystitis; non-healing infected wounds; acute retinal artery occlusion; major burns (>20% TBSA, grade 2+); post-anoxic encephalopathy; cystoid pneumatosis of the intestine. **Preparation** Wear clean cotton clothing — no synthetic fabrics, no nylon or polyester. Leave all electronics, watches, mobile phones, matches, lighters, and glass items outside. Change shoes before entering the chamber area. Avoid alcohol on the day of treatment. If you have active ear or sinus infections, or any upper respiratory illness or virosis, the session must be postponed. **Safety and side effects** The most common side effect is mild middle-ear pressure during compression and decompression, managed easily with Valsalva technique and nasal drops. In extremely rare cases (approximately 0.5 per thousand sessions), patients may experience a transient hyperoxic seizure-like episode; this resolves immediately on mask removal and does not require further intervention. Patients with untreated pneumothorax, uncontrolled epilepsy, or active URTI should not undergo HBO. **Who benefits most** HBO at ALMEDEA is primarily a medical therapy indicated by a specialist physician. It is appropriate for patients with diagnosed conditions on the Czech national indication list — particularly those seeking post-radiation wound repair, closure of diabetic or ischaemic ulcers, or acute emergency treatment (CO poisoning, DCS). The 24-hour operating schedule makes the centre accessible for urgent cases. Patients considering wellness or preventive use should discuss this with the clinical team, as off-label HBO courses may not be covered by insurance. **Frequency and course length** Acute indications (e.g. CO poisoning): typically a short intensive course arranged emergently. Chronic indications: 20–80 sessions per calendar year depending on diagnosis, usually in weekday blocks of 5 sessions per week.