Landspitali - University Hospital
Hyperbaric and Dive Medicine Department
Emergency Hyperbaric Oxygen Treatment
Some life-threatening conditions require emergency hyperbaric oxygen therapy.
This service is available 24 hours a day, year-round.
How to Access This Service
Emergency hyperbaric oxygen treatment can only be activated through high-priority referrals from physicians in hospital emergency departments.
If you believe this treatment may be required, seek immediate medical assistance at the nearest Emergency Department or by calling 112.
Emergency Treatment Process
If hyperbaric treatment is indicated, the Emergency Department contacts the hyperbaric medicine specialist.
A medical evaluation is performed in the Emergency Department to determine the appropriate treatment protocol and rule out contraindications.
Additional laboratory tests may be required before and/or after treatment.
Emergency Indications
Air or gas embolism
Carbon monoxide poisoning
Clostridial myositis and myonecrosis (gas gangrene)
Crush injury, compartment syndrome, and other acute traumatic ischemias
Necrotizing soft tissue infections
Arterial insufficiency (e.g. central retinal artery occlusion)
Other Emergency Indications
Decompression sickness (diver emergency recompression)