Abstract
Hyperbaric oxygenation is increasingly used as treatment for a broad array of diseases. Incomplete knowledge of the basic pathophysiologic mechanisms underlying hyperbaric oxygenation and concern regarding therapeutic efficacy and safety hamper efforts to establish this therapy as a widely accepted mode of treatment. This review surveys the significant basic science and clinical evidence that forms the basis of many opinions on the clinical utility of hyperbaric oxygenation. We examine the current clinical indications for hyperbaric oxygenation and discuss the potential benefits and risks of therapy. As the numbers of individuals exposed to the effects of hyperbaric hyperoxia increase, clinicians involved in their care will need to become familiar with the general principles of hyperbaric oxygenation, indications for treatment, and possible complications of therapy.