Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy - Hyperbaric Chamber Information ...

Introduction
The Medicare Services Advisory Committee (MSAC) evaluates new and existing health
technologies and procedures for which funding is sought under the Medicare Benefits
Scheme in terms of their safety, effectiveness and cost-effectiveness, while taking into
account other issues such as access and equity. MSAC adopts an evidence-based
approach to its assessments, based on reviews of the scientific literature and other
information sources, including clinical expertise.
MSAC’s terms of reference and membership are at Appendix A. MSAC is a
multidisciplinary expert body, comprising members drawn from such disciplines as
diagnostic imaging, pathology, surgery, internal medicine and general practice, clinical
epidemiology, health economics, consumer affairs and health administration.
The Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) Supporting Committee of MSAC
(membership at Appendix B) has supervised a systematic review of the use of hyperbaric
oxygen therapy for the following indications: thermal burns; diabetic wounds; nondiabetic
wounds; nectrotising soft tissue infections including necrotising fasciitis,
Fournier’s gangrene, and necrotising arachnidism; osteomyelitis; osteoradionecrosis and
soft tissue radionecrosis; survival of skin grafts and flaps; multiple sclerosis;
cardiovascular conditions including acute myocardial infarctions, cerebrovascular disease,
and peripheral obstructive arterial disease; soft tissue injuries including acute ankle
sprains and crush injuries; cluster and migraine headaches; facial paralysis; sudden
deafness and acoustic trauma; neoplastic conditions including cancers of the head and
neck, cervic, bladder, lung, and lymphomas and neuroblastomas; carbon monoxide
poisoning; actinomycosis; Crohn’s disease; Legg-Calve-Perthes disease; and osteoporosis.
This report summarises the assessment of current evidence for the use of hyperbaric
oxygen therapy in these indications.
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy 1