Clinical hyperbaric oxygen therapy, wound perfusion, and transcutaneous oximetry.

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) is an important adjunct in the management of problem wounds which exist in chronic oxygen deficiency and in which the local oxygen tension is below optimal for healing. In the treatment of hypoxic and ischemic wounds, the most important effects of hyperbaric oxygenation are the stimulation of fibroblast proliferation and differentiation, increased collagen formation and cross-linking, augmented neovascularization, and the stimulation of leukocyte microbial killing. Ischemic soft tissues also benefit from hyperoxygenation through improved preservation of energy metabolism and reduction of edema. Hyperbaric oxygen is administered in either a multiplace or a monoplace hyperbaric chamber. Normally, pressures of 2 to 2.5 ATA are used for a period of 90 minutes once or twice daily. For an objective assessment of wound perfusion and oxygenation, transcutaneous oximetry provides a simple, reliable, noninvasive, diagnostic technique. It can be used for assessment of tissue perfusion in the vicinity of the problem wound. Transcutaneous oximetry may be used in the assessment of wound healing potential, selection of amputation level, and patient selection for HBOT. In diabetic patients with chronic foot ulcers peri-wound transcutaneous oxygen tensions (TcP(O2)) over 400 mmHg in 2.5 ATA hyperbaric oxygen or over 50 mmHg in normobaric pure oxygen predict healing success with adjuncted HBOT with high accuracy.