Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) Treatment in Malaysia

Abstract

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) is a new treatment modality in which the patient intermittently breathes 100% oxygen while the treatment chamber is pressurized to a pressure greater than sea level (hyperbaric environment). Application on modern HBOT was introduced as early as the 1950’s and has rapidly been practiced all over the world mainly in developed countries as well as developing coun- tries. In Malaysia, it was introduced as early as the 1960’s by the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) to treat underwater mishaps. It gained popularity and recognition when the In- stitute of Underwater and Hyperbaric Medicine (IUHM) started treating specific clinical diseases in the late 1990’s using HBOT. Since then, there have been demands of HBOT among civilian patients, with more hyperbaric facilities ex- pected in the near future. The objective of this paper is to provide a brief report on HBOT as a new modality of treat- ment in Malaysia, as well as to discuss some of its issues and challenges.