Acute Anemia, Exceptional Blood Loss Anemia

HBOT for Severe Anemia Treatment

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) is used in severe anemia cases as a life-saving bridging treatment when blood transfusions are unavailable, while waiting for blood products, or for those who refuse blood products for religious or personal preferential reasons. Here's how it works:

In acute anemia or severe blood loss, there isn't enough hemoglobin to carry sufficient oxygen to tissues.

HBOT helps by:

  • Dramatically increasing the amount of oxygen dissolved directly in the blood plasma (up to 30 times normal levels), which can help meet the body's oxygen needs even with low hemoglobin levels.

  • Providing enough oxygen to maintain vital organ function until definitive treatment (usually blood transfusion or an alternative bloodless treatment) can be administered.

HBOT is particularly valuable in cases where blood transfusions are refused (e.g., for religious reasons) or unavailable, though it's considered a temporary measure rather than a definitive treatment for severe anemia.