| Principle | Mechanism |
| Enhance COHb elimination from the body | Mass action: oxygen competes with CO for hemoglobin binding site |
| Enhance CO elimination from myoglobin and cytochrome oxidase | Mass action: oxygen competes with CO for iron / copper binding sites in tissue |
| Maintain oxygen delivery to tissue | Oxygen: 2.1% by volume per ATA is physically dissolved in plasma |
| Reduce cerebral edema and intracranial pressure | Vasoconstrictive effect of HBO |
| Decrease leukostasis | HBO inhibits B2 integrin function |
From: Piantadosi, C.A., 1999. Diagnosis and treatment of carbon monoxide poisoning. In: Respiratory Care Clinics of North America, Hyperbaric Medicine, Part II, 5 (2), pgs. 183-202.