'Pure oxygen' treatment for damaged tissues in 23 provinces

There are 'Hyperbaric Oxygen Treatment Centers' in 30 hospitals in 23 provinces under the Ministry of Health General Directorate of Public Hospitals. 2 of these are active. In 2024, 15,846 patients, 1,659 of whom were emergency, received hyperbaric oxygen treatment, and in the first 3 months of 2025, 5,743 patients, 543 of whom were emergency, received hyperbaric oxygen treatment. Deputy General Manager of Public Hospitals Prof. Dr. Yücel Yüzbaşıoğlu said that hyperbaric oxygen treatment is a treatment method in which 100 percent oxygen is given to patients at 2-3 times the normal pressure in rooms specially designed for pressure. He said that with this treatment, patients have the chance to receive higher amounts of oxygen to their tissues and cells, which helps with improvements at the tissue level and also allows patients to receive treatment.

Prof. Dr. Yücel Yüzbaşıoğlu stated that hyperbaric oxygen therapy is used in many diseases and said, "It is a treatment method used especially in diseases such as diabetic foot, necrotizing fasciitis (soft tissue infection), osteomyelitis (bone inflammation), sudden hearing loss, sudden vision loss, carbon monoxide poisoning or bends in diving."

Prof. Dr. Yüzbaşıoğlu, who said that the treatment is free of charge, said that the sessions vary according to the disease, but last between 60 and 120 minutes on average, and said, "For example, in the evaluation made by emergency medicine specialists in a carbon monoxide poisoning case brought to the emergency room by 112 while unconscious, if organ damage occurs most of the time or in other clinical cases, the treatment of the patient is planned by consulting with the hyperbaric physician and our underwater specialists in order to plan this treatment. This usually continues by going from the emergency room to this center, after a 2-hour session, coming back to the emergency room and planning the patient's treatment and admitting them to the appropriate service. Or, in patients with chronic wound syndrome, that is, patients with wounds that do not heal, treatment is planned with the opinion of infectious diseases and orthopedics specialists. We have approximately 60 hyperbaric specialists in the public sector in Türkiye. Our current plan includes centers that will be opened in 2025. The needs and demands organization scheme of our entire country is provided by the public hospitals institution. There is an organization that can reach every patient."

'A TREATMENT METHOD THAT REDUCES THE PATIENT'S ORGAN DAMAGE'

Prof. Dr. Yüzbaşıoğlu stated that this treatment is a supportive treatment method that reduces organ damage to the patient and said, "After receiving this 2-hour treatment in the emergency room, patients can achieve complete well-being. Then, they have the chance to come on certain days of the week as outpatients and receive this treatment. Similarly, patients with chronic wounds can come to these hyperbaric centers and receive treatment. In our hyperbaric oxygen treatment centers within the Public Hospitals Institution, a plan can be made according to the diagnosis and indications of the diseases. These are areas where all branches such as an ophthalmologist, an orthopedist, general surgery, and internal medicine doctor can contact and provide treatment to their patients. Therefore, the physician's decision is very important for our patients who want to benefit from this treatment method in these diseases. The evaluation of the physicians and the treatment provided to the patients deemed appropriate should be done. The benefits of this treatment are that it accelerates wound healing, accelerates the formation of new vessels, and reduces edema. At the same time, it re-liquefies the air bubbles that have liquefied but turned into gas in those who dive underwater, facilitates their removal from the lungs, and reduces the risk of infection. "At the same time, it increases the binding power of carbon monoxide gas and the pressure of oxygen, thus allowing the patient's tissues to heal. The contribution of this treatment to the patient is unbelievable," he said.

UAV

Editor: News Center