Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT)

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) at SGH's Hyperbaric & Diving Medicine Centre is a hospital-grade clinical intervention where patients breathe 100% pure oxygen at pressures of 2 to 3 atmospheres absolute (ATA) inside a sealed multiplace chamber. The elevated pressure and oxygen concentration work together to dramatically increase the amount of dissolved oxygen in the bloodstream and tissues, promoting healing mechanisms that cannot be replicated at normal…

The SGH centre operates one of the largest multiplace hyperbaric chambers in Southeast Asia, with capacity for up to 10 patients per session. The multiplace format offers a critical clinical advantage: nurses and attendants can enter the chamber alongside patients, enabling real-time monitoring and intervention during treatment. This is particularly important for patients recovering from major surgery, those on mechanical ventilation, or critically ill…

A standard HBOT session involves three phases. During compression, chamber pressure is gradually raised over approximately 10 to 15 minutes while patients equalise ear pressure by swallowing, yawning, or using the Valsalva manoeuvre. During the maintenance phase — typically 60 to 90 minutes — patients breathe pure oxygen via a transparent hood or face mask while pressure is held constant. During the final decompression phase, pressure is returned to…