coming up for oxygen

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Coming up for Oxygen

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Hyperbaric oxygen treatment (HBOT) – the use of pure oxygen at a higher level than atmospheric pressure – is widely known as a cure for divers suffering from decompression illness or air embolism. Since the early 20th century, doctors have treated diving ailments with supplementary oxygen. With time, hyperbaric medicine has gained acceptance as a cure for other problems, such as non-healing wounds, infections and radiation necrosis disorders. Now, a wide range of brain and nerve disorders have joined this list

At the forefront of medicine, The Israeli Naval Medical Institute (INMI) and RHCC established Israel’s first hyperbaric chamber in the early 70’s , to treat injured divers and other indication for HBOT. In 1982 The INMI was officially recognized by the Israeli Ministry of Health as a National Clinical Hyperbaric Institute associated with RHCC. Today, at its joint facility with Elisha Hospital, RHCC also uses HBOT to treat neurological disorders, brain injuries and even autism.

Dr. Yehuda Melamed, former CO. of INMI, founder and director of the Hyperbaric and Diving Medical Center treats such patients. Five days a week he enters into the 12-seat hyperbaric chamber a group comprising autistic pre-schoolers, elderly stroke victims, MS patients and brain-injured car crash survivors. While the causes of their ailments differ, these patients underwent (along with the injured divers) the same crisis: disturbed blood supply to the brain. The results of their treatment, says Dr. Melamed, are “no less than amazing”.

Dr. Melamed explains that in the last decade, HBOT has gained wide employment as the result of two scientific advances. Firstly, imaging techniques, like MRI, PET and SPECT appeared. “We now have objective tools that show exactly what happens to a patient before and after treatment – the most convincing evidence,” he says. Secondly, recent discoveries in molecular biology reveal that oxygen has more physiological functions than ever imagined.

It should come as no surprise, according to Dr. Melamed, that as hyperbaric medicine can cure decompression, it can treat a host of brain and neurological ailments. “In diving accidents, small blood vessels are blocked and the blood-brain barrier,” says Dr. Melamed. The blood-brain barrier (BBB) is a mechanism that controls the passage of substances from the blood into the brain and spinal cord. It protects the brain from potentially dangerous elements like viruses, bacteria and hormones, and maintains a constant environment.

Likewise, a lot of neurological illnesses are characterized by an opening of the BBB. Both patients with diving ailments and neurological pathologies have a lowered blood supply and lack of oxygen in their tissues. “Whether brain cells are damaged from decompression or MS, they look – and act – the same,” says Dr. Melamed. “A biopsy taken from the site of decompression-caused damage resembles that resulting from MS. HBOT can help restore blood flow and BBB, no matter what their cause. “

“In many autistic children, SPECT imaging shows a lack of blood flow to the brain’s frontal lobes. If we can prove that a patient’s autism is caused by low blood flow, hyper-oxygenation can help,” says Dr. Melamed, stressing that it is not known if HBOT can help in cases of autism not associated with low blood flow.

“Hyperbaric medicine has tremendous curative value and should be used to treat injuries of the body and brain. I saw its effects first-hand on my own brain,” says Prof. Evgeny Levitch, a physicist (See BOX below).

Fifteen indications for HBOT are included in the Israeli National Health Act, and are funded by the government healthcare program. These include non-healing wounds – often caused by diabetes – vascular disease, and radiation necrosis. Stroke, non-healing bone fractures and traumatic brain injury are among HBOT’s other targets.

As HBOT has been shown to decrease post-operative trauma, Dr. Melamed envisions a time in which hyperbaric treatment will also be part of standard pre-operational regime.“It’s simple,” says Dr. Melamed. “Oxygen is good for us.”

Watch Dr. Yehuda Melamed's Interview for Channel 2 news, Israel tv (Hebrew): Hyperbaric oxygen treatment

HBOT Gives Crash Survivor a Second Chance

Hit by a car in 2009, Prof. Evgeny Levitch survived the accident, but had suffered multiple trauma, and was left with serious disabilities. Thrombosis had necessitated the amputation of his toes, and he could not walk. Worse though, was the mental damage. Prior to the accident, Prof. Levitch had written a book on Physics, which he was about to submit for publication. “When I was released from the hospital, I couldn’t understand a word of what I had written,” he recalls. “My cognitive abilities were dead -- this was the end of life for me.”

Referred to HBO treatment for his amputation wounds, Prof. Levitch took his manuscript to every session. “My toes healed, and each time I understood a little more of what I had written.”
Now one year later, Prof. Levitch has just completed another book, and his colleagues say his work is better than ever before.

“I am absolutely convinced that HBOT cured me,” says Levitch. “I will spare no effort in convincing other doctors to use this method on their patients.”