For several specific emergency conditions, Carolinas Medical Center offers hyperbaric oxygen therapy. The Hyperbaric Medicine Unit is located in the Emergency Department to provide an ideal setting for management of the unstable or emergent patient. Hyperbaric physician and technologists on call can be reached via the Carolinas Medical Center operator at 704-355-2000.

Indications for hyperbaric oxygen therapy include:

Emergency indications:

• Air or other gas embolism
• Carbon monoxide poisoning, with or without cyanide poisoning
• Clostridial monecrosis (gas gangrene)
• Crush injuries and other traumatic ischemias
• Decompression illness
• Exceptional blood loss anemia
• Necrotizing soft tissue infections (Fournier's Gangrene, necrotizing fasciitis)

• Enhancement of healing in selected problem wounds in diabetic patients
• Late effects of radiation to normal tissue (soft tissue and bony necrosis)
• Rescue therapy of compromised skin grafts and flaps
• Refractory deep fungal infections (mucormycosis, aspergillosis, coccidiomycosis)
• Refractory osteomyelitis