Risks

Various complications can occur in the course of hyperbaric oxygen therapy. Since HBO involves ventilation with a high dose of oxygen under positive pressure, acute lung damage can occur (Acute Lung Injury or Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome), just as with machine ventilation with positive pressure. However, no permanent damage is to be expected if the therapy is carried out properly.

As a consequence of the increased oxygen concentration, myopia can occur. This is only temporary and will disappear completely. A very rare complication of the increased oxygen content of the air we breathe is a seizure.

Relatively often, however, the increased pressure causes damage to the eardrum. This usually heals within a few days without further therapy. In addition, nausea and vomiting may occur during treatment. In addition to the physical risks, there is an increased risk of fire and explosion, especially in a one-person pressure chamber with 100% oxygen.

Duration of hyperbaric oxygen therapy

Both the duration of treatment and the number of daily sessions vary depending on the clinical picture. For most clinical pictures, one session per week is carried out on five to six days. These daily sessions usually last 60 – 135 minutes.

In emergencies, several sessions per day are necessary. For acute diseases of the inner ear, the number of sessions is usually between 15 and 20. For more serious diseases, such as bone infections, a total of 30 to 60 sessions may be necessary.

Costs of hyperbaric oxygen therapy

The hyperbaric oxygen therapy performed on an outpatient basis is generally not paid for by the statutory health insurance. In extremely rare individual cases, the costs may be covered if a medical report and a cost estimate are submitted. The only indication for which the statutory health insurance covers the costs of outpatient HBO is diabetic foot syndrome.

Private health insurance companies, on the other hand, usually cover the costs of HBO if at least one high-quality study on the benefits of HBO is available for the clinical picture at hand. It is recommended to ask for a cost estimate before starting treatment. For civil servants in the public sector, a number of indications are also eligible for outpatient treatment, including peripheral ischemia, severe burns, carbon monoxide poisoning or gas embolism. If, on the other hand, hyperbaric oxygen therapy is carried out during an inpatient stay due to carbon monoxide poisoning, decompression sickness, arterial gas embolism or clostridial myonecrosis, the entire treatment is also paid for by the public health insurance. Since the costs of an outpatient HBO therapy vary greatly depending on the duration and number of sessions, it is recommended that self-pay patients request a cost estimate based on their individual diagnosis.