Hiperbárica Costa Rica · Blog
Hyperbaric therapy and wound healing: when it may help
A wound that is slow to close deserves an assessment of its cause. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy may play a complementary role in some cases, but the decision begins with understanding the wound and its existing treatment.
Not every wound is a candidate. The evidence should be applied to the type of injury, circulation status and corresponding clinical protocol.
What does the diabetic foot guideline say?
The IWGDF 2023 wound healing guideline suggests considering hyperbaric oxygen as an adjunct for ischemic or neuroischemic diabetes-related foot ulcers when standard care alone has not achieved healing and resources are available to offer it. The recommendation is conditional and the certainty of evidence is low. It is not a general recommendation for every wound or a guarantee of closure. [1]
Standard care remains central. The guideline places complementary interventions within comprehensive wound care, rather than as substitutes for it. [1]
What might be the advantage in an appropriate case?
The potential advantage is an additional tool in a specialist team’s plan when the patient meets the criteria. A useful question is: “What does this add in my case, alongside my current treatment?” The answer should include the objective, alternatives, limitations and how progress will be assessed.
Another person’s testimonial does not answer those questions. Neither does a promotion for several sessions: the diagnosis and care plan should guide the decision.
Information to bring to the consultation
- When the wound appeared and which professional is treating it.
- Which treatments have been prescribed and how the wound has changed.
- Reports or studies your treating team considers relevant.
- Your questions about coordination between services and upcoming reviews.
You do not need to send photographs or medical records in a first WhatsApp message. You can start by asking about the assessment process and the appropriate channel for sharing clinical information.
Equipment pressure matters too
At Hiperbárica Costa Rica, the reported equipment range is 1.5–1.7 ATA. We do not present this range as equivalent to hospital protocols studied for complex wounds. Before considering sessions, it is necessary to determine whether the case requires a hyperbaric medicine service with different capabilities.
This difference helps interpret published benefits correctly: the results of one protocol do not automatically apply to another. You can explore this further in our introduction to hyperbaric therapy.
The next step
If a wound is already being monitored, first discuss the suitability of a specialist assessment with your treating professional. A worsening wound needs timely clinical care; this should not be postponed while obtaining a quote for a session package.
Further reading
Informational content based on the linked sources. It does not replace a clinical assessment or constitute an individual recommendation. The references do not certify our equipment or facility.