What Researchers Did
Researchers reviewed 7.5 years of records from a U.S. Navy recompression chamber in Guam (2017–2024) to document who used the chamber, for what conditions, and at what cost.
What They Found
Of 180 treatment indications, 59% were for non-diving conditions such as diabetic ulcers and wound care, while 35% were for decompression illness (DCS), 3% for arterial gas embolism, and 2% for carbon monoxide poisoning. Decompression illness cases dropped significantly post-COVID (average 3 per year) compared to pre-COVID (average 14 per year), largely due to reduced tourism. Total non-military billing revenue was $102,274 over the period.
What This Means for Canadian Patients
This military facility data reflects a broad civilian shift in HBOT use, with wound care now exceeding diving emergencies. For Canadian patients, it demonstrates that hyperbaric chambers serve diverse medical needs and that access to chambers matters for non-diving emergencies like carbon monoxide poisoning and arterial gas embolism.
Canadian Relevance
Decompression sickness, arterial gas embolism, and carbon monoxide poisoning are OHIP-covered indications for HBOT in Ontario. No direct Canadian connection identified for this study.
Study Limitations
This is a single military facility in a unique geographic and population context, so utilization patterns do not reflect civilian Canadian settings.