Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT)

Clinical hyperbaric oxygen therapy delivered in a multiplace chamber accommodating up to 10 patients at 2–3 ATA. Treats decompression sickness, CO poisoning, problem wounds, gas gangrene, radiation injury, sudden hearing loss, and other approved indications under specialist physician supervision.

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 atmospheric pressure. 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 patients who could deteriorate without immediate bedside care. 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 normal over a controlled period to allow dissolved gases to safely off-gas. Approved clinical indications managed at SGH include: decompression sickness (Type I and II), arterial gas embolism, carbon monoxide and cyanide poisoning, gas gangrene (clostridial myonecrosis), crush injuries and traumatic ischaemia, compartment syndrome, acute peripheral arterial insufficiency, compromised grafts and flaps, problem wounds (diabetic foot ulcers, pressure injuries, radiation wounds), refractory osteomyelitis, sudden sensorineural hearing loss, and radiation-induced tissue damage including osteoradionecrosis. Treatment courses typically range from 20 to 40 sessions for chronic wound indications, while acute emergencies such as decompression sickness may require immediate single or multiple sessions over consecutive days. The centre operates a 24-hour diving emergency line (+65 6222 3322) for divers experiencing in-water or post-dive injuries. As a Ministry of Health–regulated facility within a public hospital, patients with eligible conditions may qualify for Medisave usage, government subsidies, or MediShield Life coverage. All treatment plans are physician-ordered and co-managed with relevant SGH specialty departments including general surgery, orthopaedics, wound care, and internal medicine. The centre is widely regarded as the benchmark clinical HBOT programme in Singapore and among the leading facilities in the Asia-Pacific region.