Which patient condition would typically require immediate hyperbaric therapy?

Decompression sickness, often referred to as "the bends," occurs when nitrogen bubbles form in the body due to a rapid ascent after diving. This condition can cause severe pain, neurological impairment, and even life-threatening complications. Immediate hyperbaric therapy is crucial in the treatment of decompression sickness because it helps to reduce the size of the nitrogen bubbles and restore normal function to tissues that may be ischemic due to bubble formation. The hyperbaric environment allows for increased oxygen availability and aids in the elimination of nitrogen from the body. Timely intervention is essential to prevent long-term damage and improve outcomes for individuals suffering from this condition.

In contrast, while asthma attacks, chronic migraines, and heart failure require medical attention, they do not typically necessitate hyperbaric therapy as an immediate intervention. These conditions can often be managed through standard medical protocols and do not typically involve the same urgent need for hyperbaric treatment that decompression sickness does.