The Hospital da Luz Lisboa hyperbaric chamber, which started operating at the end of September 2024, has provided so far 1,250 sessions to treat over a hundred patients. In most cases, patients were referred by specialized physicians taking advantage of hyperbaric oxygen therapy to treat wounds (following an accident or chronic disease, such as diabetes), sports injuries, but also more complex situations, namely sudden deafness, and a severe ophthalmologic problem. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is a treatment where oxygen at 100% concentration is inhaled in an environment with a pressure twice or three times higher than atmospheric pressure. “This is presently a relatively common therapeutic resource in areas as different as traumatology and orthopaedics, neurology and oncology, being increasingly common also in sports medicine”, explains Cláudia Febra , internist and intensivist physician, and the coordinator of Hospital da Luz Lisboa Hyperbaric Medicine Centre. This Hospital da Luz service receives patients from all over the country. The patients treated so far come mainly from Lisboa region, Alentejo and Algarve. The evidence of hyperbaric oxygen therapy benefits is growing and is being scientifically examined. Among the hundred clients treated over the last half year at Hospital da Luz Lisboa, we can highlight two, for their complexity and post-therapy results: A patient with central retinal artery occlusion – an emergency situation with indication for immediate treatment with hyperbaric oxygen therapy – who came to the Emergency Unit of the Hospital due to sudden and severe loss of vision in one eye, occurred a few hours before. Once the diagnosis was established by the EU team, he was immediately referred to hyperbaric oxygen therapy, recovering about 40% of vision after the first session. In the following weeks, the patient completed 30 sessions, recovering about 80% of vision. A patient with sudden deafness, diagnosed by a specialist 48 hours after noticing the loss of hearing, having initiated treatment with hyperbaric oxygen therapy on the third day of symptoms. After 20 sessions of hyperbaric oxygen therapy, 100% recovery of hearing was achieved. The hyperbaric chamber of Hospital da Luz Lisboa: Is multiplace (with 16 seats or 3 stretchers simultaneously) and spacious, reducing the occurrence of claustrophobia episodes –, features that make it unique among the equipment available in the Iberian Peninsula. It replicates a 15 meters depth dive. Enables patients to get a concentration of oxygen dissolved in the blood five times higher than with oxygen administration in normal conditions. “This ensures that oxygen reaches all tissues affected, for instance in the consequence of wounds, burning, sports trauma, bone and joint inflammation”, explains Cláudia Febra. Access to the Hyperbaric Medicine Center can be made on the initiative of the patient or by doctor indication. The first step will always be the scheduling of a consultation to evaluate the case and decide the indication of hyperbaric oxygen therapy and prescription of the most adequate treatment. The Centre counts with a permanent team, comprising physicians, nurses and other health professionals specialized and experienced in hyperbaric medicine. Schedule your appointments via MY LUZ or at hospitaldaluz.pt/lisboa/en .
