ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To analyze wound healing results of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) for a variety of different wound types. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study included all patients treated with HBOT and wound care at a single hyperbaric center between January 2017 and December 2020. The primary outcome was wound healing. Secondary outcome measures were quality of life (QoL), number of sessions, adverse effects, and treatment cost. Investigators also examined possible influencing factors, including age, sex, type and duration of wound, socioeconomic status, smoking status, and presence of peripheral vascular disease. RESULTS: A total of 774 treatment series were recorded, with a median of 39 sessions per patient (interquartile range, 23-51 sessions). In total, 472 wounds (61.0%) healed, 177 (22.9%) partially healed, 41 (5.3%) deteriorated, and 39 (5.0%) minor and 45 (5.8%) major amputations were performed. Following HBOT, median wound surface area decreased from 4.4 cm 2 to 0.2 cm 2 ( P < .01), and patient QoL improved from 60 to 75 on a 100-point scale ( P < .01). The median cost of therapy was 9,188 (interquartile range, 5,947-12,557). Frequently recorded adverse effects were fatigue, hyperoxic myopia, and middle ear barotrauma. Attending fewer than 30 sessions and having severe arterial disease were both associated with a negative outcome. CONCLUSIONS: Adding HBOT to standard wound care increases wound healing and QoL in selected wounds. Patients with severe arterial disease should be screened for potential benefits. Most reported adverse effects are mild and transient.
Subject(s)
Diabetic Foot , Hyperbaric Oxygenation , Humans , Diabetic Foot/therapy , Hyperbaric Oxygenation/methods , Quality of Life , Retrospective Studies , Wound Healing , Male , FemaleABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Spontaneous haemopneumothorax is a rare disorder and is defined as spontaneous pneumothorax associated with the accumulation of more than 400 ml of blood in the pleural cavity. CASE DESCRIPTION: A 32-year-old male presented at the emergency department following sudden onset of right-sided stinging chest pain and difficulty in breathing. The chest X-ray showed right-sided hydropneumothorax. A tube thoracostomy was performed, which immediately drained 1500 ml of sanguinolent fluid. The first CT-scan showed no active bleeding. Several hours later the patient became haemodynamically unstable and an additional CT-angiogram was performed. This revealed an extravasation in the area of the second posterior intercostal artery, which was successfully embolised subsequently. This resulted in a haemodynamically stable patient, allowing elective video-assisted thoracic surgery. CONCLUSION: Spontaneous haemopneumothorax is a life-threatening disorder. After initial drainage video-assisted thoracic surgery is to be preferred to conservative treatment or thoracotomy. However, it is necessary for the patient to be haemodynamically stable. In this case intervention radiology contributed to a minimally invasive approach. This therefore also merits consideration as a therapeutic option.
