Pre and Post Surgery (Warning: Graphic Images)
Cut, Paste, That's a Wrap!
Whether it's a pre-planned procedure or an emergency operation, patients who plan to undergo or have already undergone surgery may find many benefits to utilizing hyperbaric oxygen therapy. Before surgery, a patient may have a few hyperbaric treatments to help boost their immune system and stimulate stem cell growth in preparation for infection prevention and tissue repair. Treatments immediately following surgical procedures have been shown to boost collagen levels and positively influence anti-inflammatory and tissue repair genes. This may result in faster healing time (up to 60% faster) with less inflammation, scar tissue and bruising. Hyperbaric therapy has been studied extensively for its ability to treat open wounds quickly, helping get patients back on their feet much faster with few complications.
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Hyperbaric Oxygen and Wound Healing
Sourabh Bhutani 1, Guruswamy Vishwanath
"HBOT has been successfully used as adjunctive therapy for wound healing. Non-healing wounds such as diabetic and vascular insufficiency ulcers have been one major area of study for hyperbaric physicians where use of HBOT as an adjunct has been approved for use by way of various studies and trials. HBOT is also indicated for infected wounds like clostridial myonecrosis, necrotising soft tissue infections, Fournier's gangrene, as also for traumatic wounds, crush injury, compartment syndrome, compromised skin grafts and flaps and thermal burns. Another major area of application of HBOT is radiation-induced wounds, specifically osteoradionecrosis of mandible, radiation cystitis and radiation proctitis. With the increase in availability of chambers across the country, and with increasing number of studies proving the benefits of adjunctive use for various kinds of wounds and other indications, HBOT should be considered in these situations as an essential part of the overall management strategy for the treating surgeon."
"HBOT was started as a treatment modality for management of decompression sickness and, with the passage of time, its scope has gradually increased to include numerous indications. Indications of particular interest to the plastic surgeon include ischaemic wounds, diabetic ulcers, traumatic wounds, necrotising infections, failing grafts and flaps, radiation wounds, and thermal burns, and the use of HBOT must be considered by the managing surgeon."
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2 weeks post-surgery. 7 hours of mild hyperbaric therapy.
Client came to us prior to her face-lift surgery. She completed one hour of hyperbaric therapy 2 days before her surgery in an attempt to boost her stem cells and immune system.
She then had her surgery and over the next two weeks, completed a total of 7 hours of mild hyperbaric therapy at 1.3 ATA with supplemental oxygen.