Diabetic wounds treatment and limb preservation (prevention of amputation)

Diabetic wounds are one of the most under-appreciated major complications of

diabetes. 5-6% of general population have diabetes. As many as 15-17% of
diabetics have diabetic wounds. About 15% of the diabetics with diabetic wounds
need Hyperbaric treatment for healing the diabetic wound.

Diabetic wound is an example of the wound that can benefit from hyperbaric oxygen
treatments. It is very well documented by many studies and approved by Medicare
and many other insurance carriers.

Most diabetics have impaired peripheral arterial circulation in their lower

extremities (legs and feet especially). They also have diabetes related
peripheral nerve injury. With compromised circulation and nerve function, it is
not surprising that most diabetes patients have difficulty with healing of leg
ulcers.

During hyperbaric oxygen treatment session, the elevation in amount of blood and
tissue oxygen, improved the ability of tissues to heal and promotes healing
process. It is important to remember that the hyperbaric oxygen therapy is used
best in conjunction with standard wound care, blood sugar control, diet, and if
needed antibiotics. All those modalities combined improve outcomes. In some
cases the effectiveness of the combines treatment protocol is so significant that
it may allow NOT TO AMPUTATE the limb.

There are numerous mechanisms by which hyperbaric oxygen treatments affect

diabetic wound healing. These include hyperoxygenation, re-growth of blood vessels
(angiogenesis), decreased of swelling (edema) and anti-bacterial effects.

Hyperoxygenation: The ability of blood to carry oxygen is very significantly

increased (according to some studies up to 1000 times increase in dissolved
oxygen) during HBOT, resulting in hyperoxygenation (increase in amount of oxygen
in the target tissues). Proper amount of oxygen in critical to the ability of
tissues to heal. Additional oxygen delivery, especially in addition to other
modalities, can create a favorable environment to enhance wound healing.

Angiogenesis (new blood vessel in-growth): Hyperbaric Oxygen Treatments do much

more then just delivering more oxygen to the tissues. The second effect on
diabetic wounds is promoting additional new blood vessel ingrowth into the
ulcerated tissues. The process of angiogenesis is a key component in healing of
the wounds and it provides the pathway for additional delivery of oxygen to the
tissues. Some authors believe that the process of angiogenesis is responsible for
long term positive effects of the hyperbaric oxygen treatments on healing open
diabetic wounds.

Decreased swelling (edema): In order to heal, the tissues develop the inflammation
and swelling to bring more oxygen and nutrients to the healing areas. On one
hand, it is very important for healing, on the other hand, especially in the legs
it leads to edema, pain and congestion. If the swelling is excessive, like in
many patients with diabetis, swelling can actually compromise the blood flow.
Hyperbaric Oxygen treatment delivers oxygen to the target tissues by increasing
the concentrtation of oxygen on the blood and decreases the production of pro-
inflammatory factors. As such, the delivery of oxygen is preserved and so is
edema.

Antibacterial effect: You may not be aware that the Oxygen is actually one of the
prime weapons our body has to fight the infection. The free radicals are able to
effectively kill many types of bacteria. Oxygen is also one of the mechanisms by
which your white blood cells kill bacteria. As you know, despite their name,
many antibiotics do not actually kill the bacteria. They rather prevent the
ability of bacteria to multiply. The task of killing the bacteria still falls
onto our immune system armed with oxygen derivatives. Hyperbaric Oxygen
Treatments help to contain the infection and to allow our immune defenses to fight
the infection.

Call us at 775-284-0911 to find more about the healing powers of oxygen.