Silicon Tissue Assay: A Measurement of Capsular Levels from Chemotherapeutic Port-a-Catheter Devices

Abstract

A previous nonblinded study has suggested beneficial effects from hyperbaric oxygen treatment of superficial partial-thickness radiation burns in human volunteers. This protocol was designed to either confirm or challenge these previous findings in a randomized, blinded format. Twelve healthy, nonsmoking volunteers (7 males, 5 females) participated. All were screened for contraindications to hyperbaric oxygen therapy (acute sinusitis, otitis media, pneumonia, pregnancy, active cancer, pneumothorax) and given a single test hyperbaric exposure. A standardized wound model was employed for the painless creation of a volar forearm lesion on volunteers by applying a suction device to form a blister, excising its epidermal roof, and irradiating the exposed dermis with ultraviolet light. Subjects were randomized into either a hyperbaric oxygen group (100% oxygen at 2.4 ATA, n = 6) or the sea-level air-breathing equivalent control group (8.75% oxygen at 2.4 ATA, n = 6). Both groups then underwent standard hyperbaric therapy. The subjects, the hyperbaric oxygen chamber operators, and the monitoring clinicians were all blinded to the oxygen concentration administered. Each subject received two dives per day over a 3-day period. The wounds were studied noninvasively prior to treatment and once per day over 6 days for size, hyperemia, and exudation, with epithelialization as the endpoint. The averages for each measurement of the hyperbaric oxygen group versus the control group were computed by means of a one-tail t test; p was considered significant at less than 0.05. Daily wound size, hyperemia, and exudation measurements were significantly different on day 2. The hyperbaric oxygen group showed a 42 percent reduction in wound hyperemia, a 35 percent reduction in the size of the lesion, and a 22 percent reduction in wound exudation (p values of 0.05, 0.03, and 0.04, respectively). No significant difference was noted for epithelialization. Observed differences in wound size, hyperemia, and exudation were attributable to hyperbaric oxygen therapy. This study further supports earlier conclusions that hyperbaric oxygen therapy is beneficial in a superficial dermal wound.

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy for Second-Degree Burn Healing: An Experimental Study in Rabbits

“…It is possible that HBOT increases the oxygenation of hypoxic tissue that may not survive without additional oxygen during ischemia. 25 The present study demonstrated faster epithelialization in the intervention group versus the control group, which supports the conclusion that adequate oxygen is mandatory for wound healing.…”

Double-blind trials in hyperbaric medicine: A narrative review on past experiences and considerations in designing sham hyperbaric treatment

“…In the present review, of the 11 trials applying this strategy, 3 used stops in the decompression to prevent decompression sickness, 35 , 36 , 38 and 1 trial administered 100% oxygen during decompression. 34 Other trials did not mention the risk of decompression sickness or the way that this risk was minimalized. The authors of the study using 100% oxygen during decompression acknowledged that the use of this strategy may have negatively influenced the inertness of the placebo, possibly decreasing the differences in outcome between the groups.…”

“…The authors of the study using 100% oxygen during decompression acknowledged that the use of this strategy may have negatively influenced the inertness of the placebo, possibly decreasing the differences in outcome between the groups. 34 …”

“…28 Two trials mentioned giving a single hyperbaric exposure to each participant prior to inclusion in the trial to prevent barotrauma during the study. 24 , 34 Moreover, the manner in which barotrauma is scored and reported is often unclear: most studies seem to rely on patients’ complaints, with only two studies mentioning that patients were explicitly questioned about the occurrence of the most common complications. 27 , 31 Only three studies mentioned the use of otoscopy to objectively assess barotrauma of the ears.…”

Current concepts on burn wound conversion—A review of recent advances in understanding the secondary progressions of burns

“…Hyperbaric oxygen treatment has been another approach that has previously been used to treat burn wounds [92] and has been shown to improve wound healing in human burn wound models [19]. Turkaslan et al investigated the effects of HBOT in the zone of stasis and reported increased cells in the synthesis stage by 24 hours post-burn, increased radioactive uptake by 5 days post-burn, and decreased necrosis overall in the treatment group [75].…”