Glossary
Reperfusion injury
Tissue damage that occurs when blood flow returns after a period of oxygen loss.
Reperfusion injury is paradoxical damage that happens when blood — and oxygen — floods back into tissue that was starved. HBOT has been shown to modulate the inflammatory cascade involved, part of its benefit in crush injury and some flap salvage.
More terms
Air break
A scheduled pause breathing normal air during a session to prevent oxygen toxicity.
Pneumothorax
A collapsed lung — the one absolute contraindication to HBOT.
Fibroblast
The cell that builds collagen and rebuilds wounds — and needs oxygen to work.
Decompression sickness
Illness from nitrogen bubbles forming after rapid ascent from depth.