05.08.2026 02:00
In the hyperbaric oxygen unit at Kocaeli City Hospital, where 14 patients are treated simultaneously, treatment is applied for many conditions such as diabetic foot ulcers, infections, bone edema and avascular necrosis (bone decay), sudden hearing and vision loss, and carbon monoxide poisoning. Patients note that after the sessions, their pain decreases and their mobility increases.
In the Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Unit serving within Kocaeli City Hospital, treatment for many diseases is administered in a special pressure chamber where 14 patients are treated simultaneously.
100 PERCENT PURE OXYGEN IS GIVEN TO 14 PATIENTS AT THE SAME TIME In the unit, where pressure up to 3-4 times normal atmospheric pressure is created and patients breathe 100 percent pure oxygen, conditions such as diabetic foot wounds, various infections, bone edema, avascular necrosis (bone decay), sudden hearing and vision loss, and carbon monoxide poisoning are treated.
While sessions in the chamber last approximately two hours, healthcare personnel also work inside throughout the session in case of any eventuality. Thanks to the television in the chamber, series, movies, documentaries, or music broadcasts are also played according to the patients' wishes to help them spend their two-hour session more comfortably. Patients treated at the center, which also receives patients from surrounding provinces, stated that after the sessions, their pain decreased, their wounds healed, and their mobility increased.
"THE AMOUNT OF DISSOLVED OXYGEN IN THE BLOOD IS INCREASED" Dr. Uğur Can Akyol, a specialist in Underwater Medicine and Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy at Kocaeli City Hospital, stated that the basic mechanism of the treatment is to increase the amount of dissolved oxygen in the blood and ensure more oxygen is transported to the tissues, saying, "This treatment is especially effective in conditions where oxygenation is insufficient. It is most commonly applied for wound healing. In addition, we use the treatment for emergency conditions such as sudden hearing loss, sudden vision loss, and stove poisoning, as well as for patients with avascular necrosis, known colloquially as 'bone decay.' It is also one of the primary treatment methods for decompression sickness seen in divers."
"IT CREATES A DIVING SIMULATION OF APPROXIMATELY 20 METERS DEPTH" Akyol, stating that the treatment session lasts 2 hours, said, "The total number of sessions varies depending on the disease, but an average of 30 sessions are applied. In some patients, this number can be less or more. During the treatment, the pressure chamber creates a diving simulation of approximately 20 meters depth. In this way, the solubility of oxygen in the blood and the amount of oxygen transported increase. Patients also breathe 100 percent oxygen through a mask during this process. The treatment pressure and duration can vary depending on the disease. The same protocol is not applied for every patient. Like every treatment, this one can also have some side effects. The most common situation we encounter is a feeling of fullness in the ear and difficulty equalizing ear pressure due to the pressure. A condition similar to the ear pressure experienced when climbing a mountain can occur. However, our experienced operators teach patients the necessary maneuvers, and these problems can usually be overcome easily."
THERE IS NO AGE LIMIT FOR THE TREATMENT Akyol continued his words as follows: "We also apply the treatment for sudden vision and hearing loss, but not every patient is suitable for this treatment. We include patients deemed appropriate in the treatment program after evaluation by ophthalmology and ear, nose, and throat specialists. There are also situations where the treatment cannot be applied. Especially in people with certain lung diseases, the treatment may not be suitable due to the risk of pneumothorax. Therefore, each patient is first evaluated in detail. There is no specified age limit for the treatment. From newborn babies to patients over 80 years old, anyone deemed appropriate can receive treatment. Treatment is applied every weekday in our unit. We serve patients from Yalova, Sakarya, and Düzce, as well as Kocaeli. Additionally, there are hyperbaric oxygen therapy centers in Sakarya and Bursa."
"AT FIRST IT FEELS LIKE BEING IN A SPACESHIP" İbrahim Yavuz, a 40-year-old patient who regained his health thanks to the treatment, stated that he has been receiving treatment for 40 days due to edema in his hip bone, and said he felt a significant improvement after the 15th session and his pain decreased. Yavuz said, "I am currently on my 40th session. I will receive a total of 60 sessions. I felt a significant improvement after about the 15th session. At first, it feels like being in a spaceship inside; you feel a bit unfamiliar, but you get used to it later. When you meet and chat with friends inside, time passes more easily."
"THANKS TO THE TREATMENT, I CAN EVEN SET ASIDE MY CANE SOMETIMES AND WALK ON MY OWN" İsa Sertoğlu, 55, who came from Sakarya for treatment due to an infection that developed after lumbar disc hernia surgery, said, "I have been receiving hyperbaric oxygen therapy for about 10 days. I felt significant relief after the 8th session. I am very well right now. I can even set aside my cane sometimes and walk on my own. I had serious problems due to the infection. On my doctor's recommendation, I come here from Sakarya. I come and go every day, receiving treatment 5 days a week. A total of 30 sessions were planned. I am currently on my 11th session. We receive oxygen for two hours each session. I couldn't stand due to the infection. However, after the 8th and 9th sessions, my pain largely passed."
"MY WOUND HAS HEALED TO A GREAT EXTENT" Şerife Pulat, who has a wound on her foot, said, "A wound formed on my foot due to diabetes. I am receiving treatment for this. I have been here for about 15 days. I have seen the benefit of the treatment. My wound has healed to a great extent, and I can put weight on my foot more comfortably. I came here on my doctor's recommendation."