Athens Hyperbaric Diving Medicine

Operating since 2009, Athens Hyperbaric Diving Medicine is a specialized center located at Granikou 5 in Marousi, Athens, dedicated to Hyperbaric and Diving Medicine. The facility possesses extensive experience in the field and emphasizes its commitment to leveraging advanced technology alongside a patient-focused approach.

Central to its operations is an ultra-modern, multi-user, latest-generation decompression chamber. This technology enables patients to breathe oxygen under significantly increased atmospheric pressure, a process that allows up to 20 times more oxygen to dissolve directly into the blood plasma compared to normal conditions. This enhanced oxygen saturation is key to improving delivery to tissues, particularly those affected by poor blood flow due to swelling, inflammation, or vascular problems.

The clinic’s stated mission is to provide outstanding, individualized service. It focuses on carefully monitoring patient progress throughout the treatment course to ensure tangible improvements are seen and felt. Beyond the tailored clinical care, the center guarantees a relaxing and positive environment for patients, facilitated by efficient processes such as fast appointment confirmation. The clinic highlights its foundation in knowledge, adherence to high specifications, technological capabilities, and a sense of responsibility and sensitivity towards patient needs. The center reports achieving top success rates internationally and receiving European acclaim for its work in hyperbaric medicine.

The primary service offered is Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT). This involves the medical administration of 100% oxygen within a chamber pressurized to a level greater than 1 atmosphere absolute (ATA). The increased pressure bypasses the usual limitations of red blood cell oxygen transport, allowing large amounts of oxygen to dissolve into the blood plasma. This mechanism yields a range of positive physiological, biochemical, and cellular effects, significantly boosting oxygen levels in all body organs. HBOT is particularly effective in delivering oxygen to areas with compromised perfusion, thereby optimizing treatment outcomes, limiting tissue damage, and accelerating healing and recovery processes across various internal medicine and surgical conditions. A standard treatment session typically lasts 90 minutes, during which the patient breathes normally inside the hyperbaric chamber.

The clinic applies HBOT to address a wide spectrum of conditions, leveraging its benefits for specific therapeutic goals:

• Stroke: Improves blood flow to the brain, reduces swelling.
• Sports Injury: Decreases inflammation, improves vascular flow, increases stem cell release, accelerates tissue growth, reduces scarring.
• Radiation Tissue Damage: An effective first-line treatment; heals tissue by regenerating blood vessels, repopulating with stem cells, accelerating wound healing.
• Osteomyelitis: Increases blood oxygen levels to combat organisms that thrive in low-oxygen environments.
• Long Covid: Improves microcirculation, inhibits cytokine release (reducing inflammation), inhibits autoimmune responses, promotes neurological repair.
• Fibromyalgia: May improve pain, tender points, fatigue, multidimensional function, patient global assessment, and sleep disturbance.
• Cosmetic Surgery Recovery: Shortens recovery time, reduces swelling and pain, and may improve results for procedures like facelifts, skin resurfacing, tummy tucks, and breast surgery.
• Bone Marrow Edema (BME): Reduces inflammation, leading to faster reduction in BMEs, pain reduction, and joint improvement.
• Anti-Aging: Offers benefits for aging and age-related conditions by keeping the mind and body refreshed and rejuvenated.
• Multiple Sclerosis: Addressed through HBOT protocols.
• Migraines: Addressed through HBOT protocols.
• Cerebral Palsy: Addressed through HBOT protocols.

Key personnel involved in service delivery include Dr. Pavlos Vavasis, an MD with a PhD specializing in Hyperbaric Diving Medicine who serves as the Medical Director, and Kyriakos Kourentzis, a Physical Therapist with expertise in Physical Therapy, TRX, and Aqua Training. The presence of both medical hyperbaric expertise and physical therapy capabilities suggests the potential for integrated treatment plans, particularly beneficial for conditions involving physical rehabilitation alongside HBOT.

Athens Hyperbaric Diving Medicine is located at Granikou 5, Marousi, 15125 Athens, Attica.

Public transport options are available to reach the Marousi area. Athens Metro Line 1 (Green Line/ISAP) serves the vicinity with stations such as “Marousi” and “Neratziotissa”. Neratziotissa station also provides interchange with the Proastiakos Suburban Railway. Several OASA bus lines run through Marousi, connecting it with central Athens and other suburbs; relevant routes include 550 (P. Faliro – Kifissia), A7 (Kaniggos – Kifissia), A8 (Polytechneio – Marousi), and the E14 express bus (Syntagma – OAKA – Marousi). Passengers should consult the OASA website or app for the most current schedules and identify the bus stops closest to Granikou 5, such as “Paradeisos” on Kifisias Avenue. Standard Athens public transport tickets (e.g., 90-minute, daily, multi-day passes) are valid for these services. Reaching the clinic from the nearest major station or bus stop may require a short walk.

The clinic is accessible by car, and driving directions can be obtained using standard GPS navigation. Taxis are widely available throughout Athens. Parking in the Marousi area includes street parking, which is subject to municipal regulations (payment required in white-marked zones during specified hours; blue zones reserved for residents; yellow zones prohibited). Numerous private parking garages are also located in the vicinity, some associated with nearby office buildings on streets like Gravias and Fragkokklisias. Parking availability and costs can vary, and utilizing parking apps may assist in finding spots.

A list of the most asked questions about this care center: