Evaluation of hyperbaric oxygen therapy for chronic wounds

Area of Science:

• Dermatology
• Vascular Medicine
• Oxygen Therapy

Background:

• Chronic wounds present a significant clinical challenge, often resisting conventional treatments.
• Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) has emerged as a complementary approach to standard wound care.
• Evaluating HBOT's role in diverse chronic wound etiologies is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the effectiveness of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) as an adjunct treatment for chronic wounds.
• To analyze HBOT outcomes across various chronic wound causes at a single institution.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective review of 29 patients with chronic wounds treated with HBOT (100% oxygen at 2.8 ATA) and standard care.
• Wound etiologies included diabetes mellitus, venous stasis, and vasculitic conditions.
• Response categorized as excellent, good, fair, or poor based on healing criteria and size reduction.

Main Results:

• Overall, 14 patients (48%) showed good to excellent responses to HBOT.
• 11 patients (38%) had a fair response, requiring further interventions.
• All 4 patients (14%) with a poor response had diabetes mellitus and were on hemodialysis.

Conclusions:

• Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) is a viable adjunctive treatment for chronic wounds of various origins.
• HBOT demonstrates reduced efficacy in diabetic patients, particularly those on hemodialysis, due to negative impacts on wound healing.
• Combination therapy including HBOT can improve outcomes for challenging chronic wounds.