BOOK REVIEW

The hyperbaric chamber became popular in the first half of the twentieth century because of its efficacy in treating decompression sickness, a life-threatening complication in divers.

During the second half of the twentieth century hyperbaric oxygen treatment (HBOT) was studied and applied to many medical conditions, including gas gangrene, carbon monoxide poisoning, radiation necrosis, thermal burns, diabetic foot ulcers, and crush injury. Nowadays there are some authors who also report the efficacy of the hyperbaric chamber in treating Alzheimer’s disease, multiple sclerosis, alcohol abuse, and a number of other illnesses.

This volume (as also with Medicina Hiperbárica, Subbotina’s book for physicians, written in Spanish), describes those pathologies whose treatment with hyperbaric oxygen has been endorsed by evidence-based medicine. Evidence-based medicine aims to apply the best available evidence gained from the scientific method to clinical decision making for the individual patient. Thus, this book reflects the current state of knowledge in hyperbaric oxygen treatment. Because of the broad use of HBOT in cerebral palsy and autism, the author also explains what is known about the efficacy of treatment of these disorders.

The physical and biological principles of hyperbaric oxygen therapy are simple and well studied. To keep us alive our circulatory system is carrying oxygen from the lungs to each cell in our bodies. The hyperbaric chamber allows this to be done more efficiently on the basis of the laws of physics: under pressure gases are more soluble in liquids. The liquids involved here are blood or plasma, and the gas to be dissolved is oxygen, inhaled inside the hyperbaric chamber, directly or by mask. With more oxygen in blood, cells that suffer from lack of it, in most cases due to circulatory problems, acquire the opportunity to recover enabling healing.

The best proof of the efficacy of hyperbaric oxygen therapy is the reimbursement by medical insurance companies of this treatment that is accepted in many countries. It is cost effective, the patients are cured, the programmed amputation are prevented, and total expenditure for their health care is diminished. In the United States, particularly, HBOT is officially recognized as a treatment for 13 different pathologies.

That hyperbaric medicine occupies a well-deserved place in the modern health sciences is demonstrated by the more than eight thousand hyperbaric chambers being used worldwide, the dozens of professional associations devoted to this specialty, the continuing fundamental and clinical research being done in this field, the many new journal publications and books available on this topic, and, most importantly, the multitude of patients healed with this noninvasive, painless therapy.

This book describes in a simple and accessible manner the main benefits of hyperbaric oxygen treatment. We hope that it will familiarize readers with new avenues for treatment and will inspire them to consult their physicians about this promising treatment.