Godrej Memorial Hospital is often described as a gift that keeps giving. The latest on offer is the unique life & Limb saving- Multiplace Hyperbaric Oxygen Treatment Center.

Nestled in the green patch at Vikhroli, Godrej Hospital provides affordable yet high quality service to all with no distinction. It is amongst the first few hospitals in the country to be accorded both NABH & NABL accreditations. It comes as no surprise that “Godrej” is the first private hospital in Mumbai to set up a Multiplace chamber facility to provide patients with Hyperbaric Oxygen, at its newly commissioned dept of Hyperbaric Medicine.  

Hyperbaric medicine deals with physiological problems & therapeutic applications of barometric pressure greater than sea level. Hyperbaric Oxygenation (HBOT) is made possible by patients breathing 100% oxygen in a special chamber. HBOT is of immense value as a life and limb saving measure in several medical and surgical conditions.

Most commonly used for Diabetic wounds, (Diabetic foot) and enhanced healing of other problem wounds.
Severe Crush injuries of limbs seen typically in road, rail or industrial accidents, benefit from HBOT when selected with care. Radiation as part of cancer therapy may inadvertently cause damage to soft tissues & bones , HBOT is of value in repair and control of symptoms. Severe soft tissue infections including the dreaded Gas gangrene is another well documented area of its utility.

Thermal burns, Carbon monoxide poisoning , Smoke inhalation, caused by fire accidents have much to gain from hyperoxygenation . Resistant bone infection (refractory osteomyelitis) or selected cases of severe fungal infections, HBOT is worthwhile.

Plastic surgeons find it convenient to provide HBOT to patients with compromised skin flaps & grafts  

Decompression sickness (DCS) may strike deep sea or fresh water divers. DCS may also affect workers exposed to high ambient pressure during tunneling operations & bridge building, across water bodies. DCS has a plethora of symptoms ranging from severe joint pain to disabling vertigo , paralysis, while more serious cases may end fatally.  

Gas bubbles blocking major blood vessels is another life threatening condition (AGE) affecting divers, etc.
DCS & AGE are best treated by therapeutic recompression where HBOT is combined with air or mixed gas recompression. All this is made feasible at Godrej Hospital, Dept of Hyperbaric medicine & HBOT service.  

Researchers are actively investigating into utility of HBOT in several other medical disorders. HBOT appears to be promising in Autism affected children, Paralytic Stroke rehabilitation, Traumatic brain injury ,etc. Further research will determine the status of HBOT in these and several other disorders.  

HBOT in most cases supplements conventional treatment and not meant as Alternative therapy. The side effects are usually uncommon & reversible. HBOT is given in “sittings” lasting between 60 to 120 mins.

The large Multiplace chamber at Godrej hospital has several patient friendly features – the roomy interior provides comfort. It also allows patients to either lie down or relax in a sitting position during treatment. Up to six patients can be treated at the same time. A trained in- chamber medical attendant accompanies & monitors patients during treatment – adding to patient safety. The multiplace place chamber also has some limitations as highly infectious patients would be better treated in a monoplace facility.

HBOT does add to treatment costs but reduces overall hospitalization bills, due faster healing, besides bettering outcomes in the seriously ill or chronic disorders.  

To optimize deployment the HBOT facility at Godrej Hospital is positioned near the entry gate as part of the Casualty or Emergency dept. The center is managed by a team of Hyperbaric physicians & Anesthetists with experience in HBOT, as also trained chamber operators & In- chamber nurse attendants.

Presently all three HBOT facilities in the city are located in South Mumbai. Godrej Hospital at Vikhroli (East ) would be a boon to doctors & patients from Central suburbs , Thane & beyond, Navi Mumbai, etc. Since the hospital is , “open to all”, out of station patients could obtain Indoor facility.

Patients from hospitals across the city could avail the facility on a daily basis, to & fro trips made easy by convenient location of Godrej Hospital & HBOT center on the Eastern Exp highway.

HBOT at Godrej Hospital is truly a high tech gift to Doctors & Patients in Mumbai and in and around areas.