The hyperbaric Center of our University hospital AP-HM owns three hyperbaric chambers: one dedicated to recovery, another to patients with chronic diseases but able to sit, the last one for disabled persons.

The hyperbaric chambers provide a pressure equivalent to the underwater environment where pressure is proportional to depth. Hyperbaric therapy involves submitting patients to a pressure above atmospheric pressure and administering oxygen. This technique allows to oxygenate some parts of the body that do not receive oxygen by simple breathing. This discipline is called hyperbaric oxygen therapy.

This therapy is indicated for decompression sickness due to a decompression accident. But hyperbaric oxygen therapy is also indicated for other pathologies:

• Serious infections
• Vascular surgery
• Carbon monoxide poisoning
• Healing of complicated wounds

The team is involved in a lot of international publications.

It coordinates the DESIU (University Degree) of Diving Medicine and Hyperbaric Medicine, the DESIU of Emergency Medical Aid in a marine environment and the CESU (Centre for emergency care) of Aptitude and Sanitary Support to Diving Medicine.

It has been coordinating the relocation of marine emergency care to Reunion and Mayotte.

The main lines of research are :

• Physiology and pathophysiology in extreme oxygenation
• Benefit of virtopsy after the death of a diver
• Impact of Hyperbaric oxygene therapy (HBV) on the fertilization rate in in vitro fertilization

In 2017, 3 new research studies are led, about drowning, healing and aeronautics with the Flight test center in Istres, Air Liquide defense section and Airbus.