Abstract:
Chronic leg ulcers are a major cause of mortality and morbidity. The efficacy of hyperbaric oxygen treatment is being evaluated in the management of nonhealing leg ulcers to improve skin graft survival. Twenty-seven patients with 36 chronic leg ulcers were examined. Each wound received 12 preoperative hyperbaric oxygen treatments, split-thickness skin grafting, followed by 12 postoperative hyperbaric oxygen treatments. Wound transcutaneous oxygen tension measurements (TCOM) were taken. The graft take was evaluated. At 18 months follow-up, 18 skin grafts (50%) showed complete take, 15 (41.7%) demonstrated partial take, and 3 (8.3%) failed. Hyperbaric oxygen treatment is an effective adjunct in the management of chronic leg ulcers, and its use resulted in increased graft take and survival.
Saber, Yahya, Rao, Castellano, Cioroiu, Grossi, Tornambe, , (). A new approach in the management of chronic nonhealing leg ulcers. Journal of investigative surgery : the official journal of the Academy of Surgical Research, ;18(6):321-3. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16319053