Hyperbaric Oxygen Acutely Increases Wound Circulation as Assessed by Fluorescent Angiography

Other conference contribution, 2016

The efficacy of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) to facilitate wound healing in diabetic lower extremity ulcers is well established. The exact mechanism of HBOT-mediated wound healing is unclear but is thought to relate to increased reactive oxygen species and reactive nitrogen species (ROS and RNS). ROS and RNS lead to many downstream affects that impact wound healing, including increased growth factors, diminished inflammatory responses, and improved neovascularization. The impact of HBOT, however, on tissue perfusion and flow is not known. The purpose of this pilot study was to ascertain the immediate effects of HBOT on the microvasculature of chronic wounds as assessed by fluorescent angiography.