Hyperbaric oxygen therapy in the battlefield.

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) is increasingly being used in a number of areas of medical practice. It is an accepted adjunctive therapy in conditions such as burns, crush injuries, head injuries, spinal cord injuries, reconstruction surgeries, gas poisonings, radiation injuries, various anaerobic and aerobic infections that are commonly encountered in combat. It is being evaluated as a potential therapy for a variety of illnesses such as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and High Altitude Cerebral Oedema (HACO) that are typically encountered in a combat scenario. The latest hyperbaric chambers are lightweight, portable and easy to operate. Provisioning of such chambers in the zonal hospitals can prove to be an invaluable resource in combat casualty care and may result in improved outcomes.