A new treatment for ischemic ulcers: foot bath therapy using high oxygen soluble fluid.

We devised a new treatment for ischemic ulcer in which the diseased foot is soaked in perfluorodecalin, a fluorocarbon. Pure oxygen bubbles emerge from the perfluorodecalin, and dissolved oxygen levels reach 35% by volume within 60 minutes. The solution is placed in a bath once or twice a day for 2-3 hours and pure oxygen is allowed to bubble through it (3-5 1/min). Nine patients were treated by this technique. Drugs which seemed to have an effect on ischemic ulcers were not used during the treatment. Ischemic ulcers in three patients (5 X 5 mm, 23 X 6 mm and 10 X 5 mm) healed completely within two weeks and there were no recurrences. In six patients, the ulcers showed 30-70% reductions in size within 4 to 14 days. Four of them later underwent arterial reconstruction, which resulted in complete healing of the ulcers. In two patients, the ulcers reverted to their former size 6 to 12 months after the cessation of perfluorodecalin bath therapy.