Clinical Research Studies

The purpose of this study is to investigate the use of hyperbaric oxygen therapy to treat respiratory distress in patients who have tested positive for COVID-19 or have a clear clinical diagnosis of COVID-19 and may require mechanical ventilation. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT), involves breathing 100% oxygen in either a pressurized room or tube. It is approved by the FDA, however, has not been approved to treat respiratory distress in COVID-19 positive patients. Previous reports have shown success with HBOT for treating chronic wounds, radiation injury, reperfusion injury, decompression sickness, to list a few. Initial studies show COVID-19 infection sets off a large immune response and HBOT has the potential to decrease this. This study will examine whether HBOT may help reduce the infection reaction to COVID-19 in order to help with the recovery process and decrease the need for mechanical ventilation. In summary, HBOT treatment will be provided to patients as an adjunct to standard therapy for a cohort of 40 COVID-19 positive patients with respiratory distress at NYU Winthrop Hospital. All patients prior to the clinical application of HBOT will be evaluated by the primary care team and hyperbaric physician. During the interim analysis of the first 10 patients and after the intervention portion of this study, a chart review will be performed to compare the outcomes of intervention patients versus age and gender matched control patients who received standard of care.