Rapid source control
Surgery and antibiotics address the infection directly and remain central.
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy for necrotizing infections & gas gangrene
Suspected gas gangrene or necrotizing infection is a medical emergency. Rapidly worsening pain, swelling, skin discoloration, or severe illness requires emergency care. Call 911; do not wait for an outpatient appointment.
Necrotizing infections & gas gangrene research & care · Scottsdale & Glendale, AZ
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy for necrotizing infections & gas gangrene
Life-threatening soft-tissue infection requires an emergency surgical team and rapid source control.
RX-O2 offers a physician-led conversation about the evidence, your diagnosis, and the role of hyperbaric oxygen therapy in your broader care plan. Our Scottsdale and Glendale teams serve patients across the Phoenix area.
Clinical research supports specialist consideration of HBOT as an adjunct for severe soft-tissue infections, with observational studies reporting encouraging survival outcomes. Emergency surgery and antibiotics remain the immediate priorities.
Physician-led care in Scottsdale and Glendale, serving the Phoenix area.
Physician-ledIndividual assessment and treatment planning
FDA-cleared chambersMedical hard-shell hyperbaric equipment
100% medical oxygenDelivered through a mask or hood
NHSA-certified techniciansPreparation, monitoring, and communication
The starting point
HBOT is one possible part of a hospital treatment pathway
Necrotizing fasciitis, Fournier’s gangrene, and gas gangrene are serious infections that can progress quickly. The immediate priority is emergency assessment, removal of infected tissue when indicated, antibiotics, and support of vital functions.
Hyperbaric specialists may advise on adjunctive treatment when the patient can be managed safely and the treatment does not interfere with urgent care. Outpatient scheduling is not the correct response to a suspected acute infection.
The clinical context matters. Transfer for chamber treatment must never take precedence over essential emergency care. The hospital team determines the safest sequence and location of treatment.
Connect the research to your goals
What matters in daily life?
Support threatened tissue
Specialists may consider additional oxygen delivery as part of tissue-preservation efforts.
Coordinated recovery
Wound follow-up, rehabilitation, and further procedures depend on the hospital course.
Your goals help shape the conversation and provide a useful way to follow progress if treatment is prescribed.
Explore the evidence
Necrotizing infections & gas gangrene & HBOT research
Explore the findings behind the conversation. These selected publications highlight reported benefits, the patients studied, and the questions researchers are still working to answer.
Literature checked
October 20, 2026
2026 · Meta-analysis of retrospective studies
A 2026 Fournier’s gangrene meta-analysis
Patel A, et al. Medical gas research. 12/01/2026.
Read the publicationAcross 13 retrospective studies, adjunctive HBOT was associated with lower mortality. Hospital stay and number of debridements did not show consistent significant improvement.
How to interpret it: The studies were not randomized. Differences in severity, selection, and available care can affect the apparent survival association.
2025 · Clinical review
A specialist review of necrotizing soft-tissue infection
Gregory TJ, et al. Journal of clinical medicine. 05/17/2025.
Read the publicationThe review discusses how HBOT may complement surgery and antibiotics, including effects on oxygen availability, bacterial activity, and host defenses.
How to interpret it: A clinical review is not a randomized efficacy trial. Suitability depends on critical-care needs, resources, and the urgency of definitive treatment.
What this means for your decision
The encouraging survival associations support discussion with the hospital’s hyperbaric specialists. Much of the evidence is observational, and further comparative research is needed. Following stabilization, a coordinated referral can clarify whether ongoing hyperbaric care may support the recovery plan.
Plan with your care team
Start with your diagnosis and a coordinated plan
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Share the relevant records
For follow-up, ask the hospital team to provide operative reports, culture results, antibiotic plans, wound assessments, and relevant discharge instructions.
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Agree on the purpose of treatment
Review the evidence with your treating specialist and hyperbaric clinician. Identify specific outcomes to follow, the alternatives, and the reasons HBOT may or may not be appropriate.
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Set reassessment points
If treatment is prescribed, discuss the schedule, travel, costs, safety screening, and how progress will be reviewed. A published study schedule does not determine an individual prescription.
Your consultation is an opportunity to ask about expected benefits, treatment experience, scheduling, costs, and follow-up. We review suitability with you and coordinate with your treating clinicians when appropriate.
The RX-O2 difference
A team and setting you can get to know
Medical oversight from the start
Medical Director Marvin A. Borsand, DO, FACOS, FACCS, HCC, leads clinical oversight. A licensed medical provider reviews suitability and prescribes treatment when appropriate.
Medical hyperbaric equipment
Our clinics use FDA-cleared hard-shell chambers. You breathe 100% medical oxygen through a mask or hood while the chamber is pressurized with air.
Preparation and communication
NHSA-certified hyperbaric technicians explain the visit and monitor treatment. Tell us about ear pressure, positioning, mobility, or confinement concerns before you arrive.
Before your visit
Necrotizing infections & gas gangrene FAQs
Can HBOT replace surgery or antibiotics?
No. Emergency source control and antimicrobial treatment are essential. HBOT is considered only as an additional treatment in a coordinated pathway.
Should I call an outpatient clinic first?
No. Suspected necrotizing infection requires emergency assessment. Call 911 or seek emergency care immediately.
When might an outpatient referral be useful?
After stabilization, the hospital and wound-care teams can determine whether ongoing outpatient hyperbaric or wound care is appropriate.
Where can I discuss this research near Phoenix?
RX-O2 has clinics in Scottsdale and Glendale. Bring your records or ask your provider to send a referral so that the team can review your circumstances and explain whether an outpatient consultation is appropriate.
Local care, two Valley locations
Explore HBOT in Scottsdale or Glendale
Looking for a hyperbaric consultation near Phoenix? RX-O2 offers two locations for patients across the Valley. Call the clinic closest to you for appointment availability and help planning repeat visits.
RX-O2 Scottsdale
9035 E Pima Center Parkway #11Scottsdale, AZ 85258
An East Valley option for patients in Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, Fountain Hills, and nearby communities.
RX-O2 Glendale
5626 N 51st AvenueGlendale, AZ 85301
A West Valley option for patients in Glendale, Peoria, Phoenix, and nearby communities.
Bring your questions. Explore your options.
After urgent medical needs have been addressed, ask your treating team whether an outpatient hyperbaric consultation has a role.
Sources & further reading
- Patel A, et al. Medical gas research. 12/01/2026. A 2026 Fournier’s gangrene meta-analysis.
- Gregory TJ, et al. Journal of clinical medicine. 05/17/2025. A specialist review of necrotizing soft-tissue infection.
Browse the complete HBOT research library · Learn how HBOT works
Selected research checked October 20, 2026. Evidence continues to evolve. This educational overview supports a conversation with your treating clinician; individual results vary.
Read HBOT safety and treatment FAQs. Discuss treatment risks, medicines, implants, and relevant medical history with your clinician. Equipment clearance does not establish effectiveness for every condition.