Barotrauma

As ambient pressure is altered, the pressure within gascontaining spaces in the body must equalize with the ambient pressure or undergo a change in volume. Volume change can easily occur in compliant compartments such as the gastrointestinal tract, but if free flow of gas into and out of gas-containing spaces surrounded by a rigid shell, such as the lung, paranasal sinuses, and middle ear, is impeded, tissue disruption and hemorrhage can occur (see later).

Despite the number of potential adverse effects of HBO therapy, major complications are extremely rare.