Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Research and Treatment Center

Head of Department: Doctor Nguyen Phuong Nam

Introduction

The Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Research and Treatment Center, belonging to the Southern Branch of the Vietnam-Russia Tropical Center, was established in 1994. The center has the functions of carrying out scientific research, applying and transferring technologies and training human resources in the field of hyperbaric oxygen therapy treatment.

Main research directions

-  Studying and applying hyperbaric oxygen therapy in the treatment of a number of diseases, especially diseases caused by exposure to environmental toxins.

- Studying and evaluating the role of hyperbaric oxygenation in the treatment of cancer patients with complications of radiotherapy (soft tissue necrosis, bone necrosis, hemorrhage of the bladder or colon, etc.).

- Study and evaluation of the role of hyperbaric oxygen therapy in the treatment of patients with insomnia, retinal artery occlusion, children with autism or cerebral palsy, patients after snakebites, patients of dengue fever, or hand, foot, and mouth disease, etc.

- A study of some indicators to assess oxidative stress and antioxidant action in patients receiving long-term hyperbaric oxygen therapy.

Facilities and equipment

The center is provided with a range of modern equipment for the purposes of  research, training, and patient monitoring, including: 

- 15 single hyperbaric oxygen chambers with the capability of providing simultaneous treatment for 15 patients;

- Cardiac ultrasound and general ultrasound machines for examining the abdominal area, thyroid glands, soft tissues, vessels, etc.

- Hematology analyzers and biochemical analyzers for measuring indicators in a blood test, detecting diseases of the liver, kidneys, and diabetes; analyzing indicators according to the requirements of scientific topics and tasks;

- EEG machines and audiometers for detecting diseases in the brain, and ears or carrying out scientific topics and tasks relating to tinnitus, deafness, dizziness, etc.

- Machines for measuring respiratory function diagnosing respiratory functions.

- Additionally, the laboratory system of the center is also equipped with urine analyzers, electrocardiography machines, and other modern equipment.

Main results

 Completed about 20 scientific and technological topics and tasks of all levels. Some outstanding results:

-   Researching the application of hyperbaric oxygen therapy to medical practice in Vietnam; the "Technical Process of hyperbaric oxygen treatment" was compiled and approved by the Ministry of Health to be applied in the Vietnamese health sector for the treatment and nursing of patients;  research on the use of hyperbaric oxygen therapy in the treatment of depressive diseases in actual conditions in Vietnam or in treatment of sudden deafness by combining hyperbaric oxygen therapy with drugs, etc. The safe and effective hyperbaric oxygen treatment was delivered to more than 250,000 patients.

-  Providing technical training for more than 100 doctors and nurses from 24 hospitals, nursing homes, and clinics in Vietnam.

-  After 30 years of having applied in medical practice, hyperbaric oxygen therapy is now one of the popular non-drug treatments that are well-received by patients in Vietnam.

Form of cooperation

-  Collaboration with military and civilian medical institutions for the treatment of a number of diseases for which hyperbaric oxygen therapy is a specific method such as decompression sickness, gas gangrene, carbon monoxide poisoning, air or gas embolism, etc.

-  Collaboration with medical facilities institutions in training hyperbaric oxygen methods.

- Cooperation with medical institutions to conduct research in related areas.