Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy is a procedure that delivers increased amounts of oxygen to diseased or injured tissues. It is currently one of the most powerful tools available as an adjunctive form of therapy, and in some cases it works well as the primary therapy for horses. Oxygen is delivered to the patient under pressure; the procedure concentrates the oxygen available in the air breathed by the horse, which allows more oxygen to be dissolved into the blood plasma. As this oxygen rich or supersaturated plasma travels through the body via the bloodsteam and flows across the cell membranes, it delivers oxygen to those cells to help heal and repair the diseased or injured tissues.

Normal circulation of oxygen is dependent on the following factors: Proportion of oxygen in the air that we breathe, lung function, the amount of hemoglobin in the blood, and the body’s normal blood pressure. The amount of oxygen that red blood cells can carry is limited with normal atmospheric pressure, meaning that only a small amount of oxygen is dissolved back into the plasma. As the pressure of the oxygen is increased in the hyperbaric chamber, the amount of oxygen being inhaled increases by 10 to 12 times. The hemoglobin in the red blood cells quickly becomes 100% saturated with oxygen, and the excess oxygen is dissolved into the blood plasma, this allows the oxygen to be diffused into the tissue at a much higher level.

In the case of bone and soft tissue wounds and infections, resulting in inflammation and swelling, the increased oxygen levels help salvage bone and tissue by increasing blood flow and stimulating faster cell turnover, which in turn speeds up the healing process. New blood vessels form more quickly, improving blood supply to injured areas resulting in a swift reduction in edema (swelling). Studies have shown that soft tissue injuries treated with HBOT recover in half the time. The increased oxygen also increases the effectiveness of antibiotics, and aids in killing many anaerobic bacteria, (bacteria which doesn’t survive well in high oxygen environments). At pressure, with oxygen at a higher level, it is also detrimental to aerobic bacteria. Extra oxygen also helps white blood cells function better to kill infectious organisms.

Colic:
HBOT helps restore blood flow to tissues after colic surgery. It also reduces obstructive swelling in the intestinal tissue and improves oxygenation of the resection (after abdominal surgery to correct colon torsion, small intestine strangulation, etc.) It’s been found that many colic cases respond much better to surgery when treated with HBOT before and after surgery.

Laminitis:
HBOT can arrest laminitis in the early stages. If you can treat the horse before the structures in the foot collapse (before there is crushing of the blood vessels), it is very effective.

Infections:
HBOT increases blood flow to the infection site, which increases the amount of antibiotic delivery. The extra oxygen also increases the effectiveness of the antibiotic, magnifying the way it works against bacteria. High-dose oxygen tends to potentiate the effect of some antibiotics, such as sulfamethoxazole (SMZ). You are also getting 15 times the amount of oxygen to a tissue that was lacking oxygen due to infection or poor circulation. Oxygen also stimulates faster cell turnover and thus faster healing.

Oxygen acts to kill bacteria. Most bacteria causing serious infection are anaerobic—working best in an environment without oxygen. At pressure, with oxygen at a higher level, it is also detrimental to aerobic bacteria. Extra oxygen also helps white blood cells function better to kill the organisms.

Certain antibiotics such as gentocin and amikacin don’t work well in low-oxygen environments. Oxygen therapy enhances their function and gives a whole combination of benefits. HBOT is an adjunctive therapy; you still use antibiotics and anti-inflammatory drugs and other treatments. It’s a component process in which everything is working together.

Abscesses:
Internal abscesses (such as in the lungs or the abdomen) are sometimes not diagnosed early. By the time they are diagnosed, there is a thick-walled capsule of connective tissue around them that keeps antibiotics from reaching the site. This results in prolonged antibiotic treatment (often with no resolution of the abscess) at high cost to the owner, and potentially fatal consequences for the horse. HBOT helps the antibiotic get to the site and enhances its ability to fight the infection.

Soft Tissue Injuries:
Many injuries result in inflammation and swelling. Studies have shown that soft tissue injuries treated with HBOT recover in half the time. New blood vessels form more quickly, improving blood supply to injured areas, and there is swift reduction in edema (swelling). Since oxygen is normally carried by red blood cells, any tissues with a compromised blood supply suffer from poor healing. But with HBOT, oxygen is forced into all body fluids and delivered to areas with restricted circulation.

Injured tendons and ligaments respond well to treatment:
HBOT can be useful in dealing with bowed tendons, surgical repair of tendon or ligament injuries, etc. Surgical traumas (incisions) also heal faster with HBOT, as do large surface wounds and pressure sores. It decreases tissue swelling and helps salvage damaged tissues in traumatic injury. In chronic wounds, it assists growth of new skin and stimulates collagen production.

HBOT is one of the most powerful tools available as an adjunctive form of therapy, and in some cases it works well as the primary therapy in horses