Hyperbaric oxygen therapy for nonhealing wounds: Treatment results of a single center

Abstract

The present article evaluates the results of the treatment with adjuvant hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) of patients with nonhealing, chronic wounds. In the period 2013 to 2016, 248 patients were referred from various hospitals because of chronic wounds that were recalcitrant in healing despite standard wound care as described in national and international guidelines. After inclusion, all patients were treated with HBOT and subjected to a weekly standard wound care treatment. During each HBOT session, 100% O2 was administered for 75 minutes under increased pressure of 2.4 ATA. Wounds and quality of life were assessed before and after the total treatment period. A total of 248 patients have been evaluated. Diabetic foot ulcers were present in 134 patients, the remainder (114 patients) showed a variety of wound locations and etiologies. The number of HBOT treatments amounted to an average of 48 (range 20‐68) sessions. Before referral to our clinic, 31% of all wounds had existed for at least 18 months (72 patients). After HBOT, 81% of all wounds were near complete healing or completely healed, in 13% of the cases the wound was stable, and in 2% minor or major amputation had to be carried out. The mean treatment time for wounds pre‐existing fewer than 6 weeks (“early referrals”) was 67 days, and 119 days for wounds pre‐existing more than 18 months (“late referrals”). A majority of the patients in our study referred with nonhealing wounds clinically improved when adjuvant HBOT was added to standard wound care protocols. No differences in success rate were seen between diabetic and nondiabetic wounds. It showed that HBOT is a well‐tolerated treatment.

Physical Treatment of Diabetic Foot Ulcers—Preliminary Study for Topical Application of Oxygen or Ozone Auxiliary Treatment of Diabetic Foot Ulcers

“…Te number of HBOT treatments was on average 48 over a period of 20-68 sessions. After HBOT treatment, 81% of all wounds were almost completely healed or completely healed, in 13% of cases the wound was stable, and only 2% required a major or minor amputation [38].…”

The impact of hyperbaric oxygen therapy on late irradiation injury in oral microcirculation

“…Hyperbaric treatment sessions were carried out in a multiple person hyperbaric chamber and had a total duration of 110 min; 100% oxygen was administered for 75 min total at 2.4 ATA through an oronasal mask kept in place with a headband to prevent air leakage 17 . HBOT was planned on weekdays from Monday to Friday.…”

“…Hyperbaric treatment sessions were carried out in a multiple person hyperbaric chamber and had a total duration of 110 min; 100% oxygen was administered for 75 min total at 2.4 ATA through an oronasal mask kept in place with a headband to prevent air leakage. 17 HBOT was planned on weekdays from Monday to Friday. Patients receiving HBOT sessions for osteoradionecrosis prophylaxis prior to extraction (20 sessions prior and 10 sessions postoperative, total of 30 sessions) and patients receiving HBOT therapeutically (≥20 sessions) were pooled.…”

Pyoderma Gangrenosum: An Updated Literature Review on Established and Emerging Pharmacological Treatments

“…Finally, hyperbaric oxygen therapy may represent an option for PG ulcers, owing to its effects on edema reduction, inflammation control, collagen formation, and bacterial burden mitigation [ 174 ]. Rescue therapy with hyperbaric oxygen resulted in complete healing and/or improvement in treatment-refractory PG cases, with a good safety profile [ 175 – 178 ].…”