Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy: Insights from Basic Research to Clinical Applications

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) is a medical treatment involving the inhalation of pure oxygen within a pressurized environment, exceeding normal atmospheric pressure conditions (usually in the pressure range of 2.0-3.0 ATA). This process utilizes Henry's law to significantly elevate the amount of oxygen dissolved in the plasma, enhancing overall tissue oxygenation without reliance on hemoglobin. Additionally, through Boyle's law, HBOT reduces inert gas volumes, alleviating conditions associated with embolisms and decompression sickness by facilitating gas bubble shrinking and oxygen replacement.

These effects make HBOT a crucial therapeutic approach for diverse medical conditions identified by reduced tissue oxygen levels, serving both primary and supportive treatment roles in conditions like severe infections, trauma, and refractory osteomyelitis.

This Research Topic aims to explore current gaps in the knowledge and application of HBOT by assembling comprehensive insights from basic science to clinical applications. Our objective is to deepen the understanding of its potential beyond established treatments, targeting less-tracked areas such as ischemia-reperfusion modulation and inflammation control.

This initiative seeks to highlight HBOT's prospective uses in more diverse medical contexts including chronic disorder management and rehabilitation after acute incidents. Despite its safety profile, an important research focus is to investigate risks associated with frequent or extended HBOT sessions, delving into topics around oxygen toxicity and pressure-induced complications.

To gather further insights in the integration and expansion of HBOT's clinical utility, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:

• The role of HBOT in medical treatment

• Techniques to optimize HBOT delivery

• Research into the mechanisms underpinning HBOT safety and efficacy

• Exploration of HBOT's effects in the clinical environment

• Comparative studies between HBOT and traditional therapeutic techniques

• Novel and investigational uses of HBOT in emerging medical scenarios

This Research Topic accepts all article types listed by the journal.

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Case Report
• Clinical Trial
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• FAIR² DATA Direct Submission
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• ... View all formats

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Case Report
• Clinical Trial
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• FAIR² DATA Direct Submission
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Policy and Practice Reviews
• Review
• Study Protocol
• Systematic Review
• Technology and Code

Keywords: hyperbaric oxygen, hyperbaric oxygenation, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, oxygen, HBOT

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.