Hyperbaric Oxygenation can help speed the recovery of thermal burns. It can also help reduce the risk of infection. HBOT is recommended by the UHMS and EUBS for these conditions.
HBOT consists of breathing nearly 100% oxygen while under higher than normal pressure. The elevated pressure combined with exposure to the oxygen has many physiological effects on the body. Many of these physiological changes have been shown to improve wound healing in chronic wounds. This has been proven in many controlled studies. One of the most pronounced effects is the increase of oxygen concentration in the plasma which results in the delivery of higher oxygen concentrations to tissues lacking in oxygen. HBOT also deceases surrounding fluid retention (oedema) and swelling, and increases the natural formation of new blood vessels (neovascularity) in tissue that has restricted blood supply (ischemic tissue).
HBOT can help wounds heal, reduce inflammation and speed up the healing process by encouraging blood flow and providing oxygen to the site of the injury.
How Hyperbaric Oxygenation can help
Hyperbaric Oxygenation is an excellent adjunct to traditional burn treatment and management. Burn injuries are complex and require careful care and treatment to ensure rapid healing, minimal scarring and abnormal pigmentation, and a return to normal (or as near as possible) function. The burn injury and the resulting damage to capillaries make it difficult for the body’s natural healing response to take place. The blocked and damaged blood vessels make it difficult for the body to provide the injured cells with the oxygen and nutrients necessary to heal. Hyperbaric Oxygenation can provide oxygen to the burn injury and surrounding tissue and increase the oxygen levels in that tissue. It can also improve healing, reduce the build up of fluid/inflammation, prevent extension of the tissue damage, reduce the need for surgery, help reduce healing time, minimise scarring and reduce the risk of infection.
Burn patients often require skin grafting. There can be complications with the receiving tissue, particular due to the damage that burns cause to the blood circulation in tissue. The burn damage impedes the blood supply, and in turn the oxygen supply to the site of the injury which can make it difficult for the skin graft to survive. Hyperbaric Oxygenation increases new blood vessel growth, thus improving blood supply to compromised areas. The increased oxygen-carrying capacity of the plasma also helps prevent the tissue bordering the burn recover from the trauma. HBOT also helps relieve fluid trapped around the injury (localized edema), which decreases the pressure on the tissue and increases blood flow. Burn patients are also at high risk of developing infections. Hyperbaric Oxygenation helps lower infection rates. HBOT as an adjunct can help the survival and success of a skin graft or skin flap. OxyGeneration works pro-actively with medical professionals to coordinate on best approach and practice in relation to patients.
OxyGeneration does not provide emergency medical care, however, sessions are appropriate as part of the healing and burn management process for minor and major scalds, all degrees of burns, rope burns and other thermal burn injuries.