Indications

Rationale

Acute carbon monoxide poisoning

Relieve hypoxia; hasten elimination of CO; antagonize brain lipid peroxidation.

Acute Exceptional blood loss anemia

Increase physically dissolved oxygen; treat hypoxia; support marginally perfused tissues.

Acute thermal burns

Relieve hypoxia; decrease fluid losses; limit burn wound extension and conversion; beat edema; promote wound closure.

Cerebral arterial gas embolism

Overcome free gas volume; relieve hypoxia; antagonize leukocyte mediated ischemia – reperfusion injury.

Chronic osteomyelitis

Agument host antimicrobial defenses; induce angiogenesis; potentiate leukocyte superoxide and peroxide production; relieve hypoxia; augment antibiotic therapy; extend postantibiotic effect; augment osteoclast activity.

Clostridial gas gangrene

Reduce size of gaseous bullae; inactivate clostridial alpha toxin; inhibit alpha toxin production; induce bacteriostasis; potentiate leukocyte superoxide and peroxide production.

Compromised skin flaps

Support marginally perfused/oxygenated tissues; antagonize ischemic-reperfusion injury; accelerate angio-genesis.

Crush injury; acute ischemic

Provide interim tissue oxygenation in relative states of ischemia; reduce edema; reduce compartment pressures; antagonize ischemic-reperfusion injury; augment limb salvage.

Decompression sickness

Overcome free gas volume-induced ischemia; relieve hypoxia; hasten elimination of offending inert gas; treat edema.

Late radiation tissue injury

Re-establish wound oxygen gradients; relieve hypoxia; induce angiogenesis; prepare for definitive coverage.

Late radiation tissue injury prophylaxis

Re-establish wound oxygen gradients; induce angiogenesis prior to surgical wounding.

Necrotizing soft tissue infections (fasciffis and cellulitis)

Induce bacteriostasis of anaerobes; potentiate leukocytic superoxide and peroxide production; relieve hypoxia; more closely demarcate potentially viable tissue.

Non-healing hypoxic wounds

Re-establish wound oxygen gradients; relieve hypoxia; reduce edema; induce angiogenesis; correct diabetic-induced leukocyte changes; prepare for definitive coverage.

Emergency Indications:

• Air Embolism

• Decompression Illness

• Burns

• Carbon monoxide poisoning

• Cerebral edema

• Closed head injuries

• Crisis of sickle cell anemia

• Blast injury

• Gas Gangrene

• Hydrogen sulfide poisoning

• Near drowning

• Near electrocution

• Near hanging

• Peyote poisoning

• Severed limbs

• Smoke inhalation

• IIeus

Orthopedic Indications:

• Crush injuries

• Soft Tissue Swelling
  a) Traumatic
  b) Cellulitis
  c) Infection/Mixed Flora

• Compartment Syndrome

• Acute Necrotizing Gasciitis

• Clostradial myonecrosis

• Severed limbs and digits

• Acute and chronic osteomyelitis

• Bone grafting

• Fractures/Non-union

• Aseptic Necrosis

• Tendon and ligament injuries, post

•     surgical repair

• Delayed Wound Healing

• Stump infections

• Edema under cast

Specific Neurologic Indications:

Air Embolism
    a) Decompression induced
    b) Latrogenic

Cerebral Edema
    a) Toxic Encephalopathy
    b)  Vasogenic
    c)  Traumatic

Spinal Cord Contusion
    a) Physiological transection
    b) Partial motor or sensory repair

Early Organic Brain Syndrome
    a) Small vessel disease

Stroke
    a) Acute
    b) Chronic

Vegetative Coma
    a) Closed head injury
    b) Hypoxic encephalopathy

Multiple Sclerosis
    a) Acute
    b) Relapsing/remitting
    c) Chronic progressive

Cranial Nerve Syndrome
    a) Trigeminal neuralgia
    b) Optic neuritis
    c) Vestibular disorders
    d) Sudden deafness
    e) Brain stem syndromes
    f) Retinal artery occlusion

Miscellaneous Indications:

• Peripheral vascular ulcer
      a) Arterial
      b) Decubitus
      c) Neuropathy related
      d) Venous

• Gangrene (wet/dry)

• Burger’s Disease

• Frostbite

• Diabetic retinopathy

• Retinal artery occlusion

• Retinal vein thrombosis

• Lepromatous leprosy

• Migraine

• Pneumatosis Cystoides Intestinalis

• Psueomembranous colitis

• Rheumatoid arthritis (acute)

• Sickle cell crisis and hamaturia

• Peptic ulcer

• Myocardial Infarction

• Post-cardiotomy low output failure

• Radiation cystitis and enteritis

• Refractory  mycoses

• Chronic fatigue

• Cerebral Palsy

• Post-Polio Syndrome

• Cirrhosis

• Crohn’s Disease

• Peripheral Neuropathy

• Charcot Marie Tooth Disease

• Radiation myelitis

• And Many Other Maladies