A topical haemoglobin spray for oxygenating pressure ulcers: a pilot study

Area of Science:

• Wound healing research
• Biomedical engineering
• Dermatology

Background:

• Pressure ulcers significantly impact patient quality of life and represent a major healthcare challenge.
• Existing treatments for pressure ulcers, including dressings and devices, often fail to achieve complete healing, leading to chronic wounds.
• Novel therapeutic strategies are needed for effective pressure ulcer management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the clinical effectiveness of a topical oxygen therapy for pressure ulcers.
• To determine the impact of a novel hemoglobin-based spray on pressure ulcer wound size.
• To assess the feasibility of using this therapy in various care settings.

Main Methods:

• A small-scale evaluation involving 18 patients with pressure ulcers.
• Application of a topical therapy consisting of pure hemoglobin in a water solution spray.
• Therapy administered at least once every three days, requiring no specialized training and usable in any care setting.

Main Results:

• All 18 pressure ulcers showed evidence of healing progression.
• Seventeen out of 18 wounds experienced a reduction in size.
• The topical hemoglobin spray was easily integrated into patient care routines.

Conclusions:

• Topical oxygen therapy with a hemoglobin spray shows promise in promoting healing and reducing the size of pressure ulcers.
• This novel approach offers a potentially effective and user-friendly treatment option for chronic wounds.
• Further research is warranted to confirm these findings in larger patient cohorts.