Enhancing Surgical Outcomes: HBOT’s Impact on Tissue Repair
Medicine is constantly advancing, and at Baromedical Associates, we strive to stay on the cutting edge. Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy is just one example of a treatment taking patient care to the next level. This therapy was once primarily used for decompression sickness, but today we’re using it to speed along recovery and deliver better surgical outcomes for patients. While Baromedical Associates serves the Dallas Metro Area, we’ve also consulted with and treated patients from all over the world. Explore HBOT’s impact on recovery, especially pertaining to tissue repair and wound healing.
The Basics of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy
Let’s start with the fundamentals—what is Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy? Often abbreviated HBOT, this recovery technique involves breathing pure oxygen in a pressurized chamber. Once the patient enters a specialized chamber, we increase the oxygen pressure, allowing the lungs to gather more oxygen than typically possible. This high oxygen concentration means more oxygen can be dissolved into the blood, which, in turn, leads to faster tissue repair1.
How HBOT Leads to Enhanced Surgical Outcomes
Hyperbaric oxygen for tissue healing is an innovative way to speed up the recovery process. As oxygen increases, so does the body’s ability to heal wounds and fight surgical site infections. HBOT results in all these enhanced surgical outcomes:
- Additional Oxygen Delivery—Higher air pressure means more oxygen is dissolved into the blood. This oxygen can then reach damaged or blocked areas with poor circulation.
- Angiogenesis Stimulation—Angiogenesis is a medical term for a simple concept—the formation of new blood vessels. HBOT promotes blood vessel development, which then enhances blood flow and nutrient delivery to injured tissues.
- Reduced Swelling and Inflammation—The worst part of surgical recovery is often the pain. Thankfully, HBOT can alleviate some of your discomfort. HBOT helps mitigate the inflammation that so often acts as a barrier to effective healing.
- Collagen Production—Oxygen is vital for the creation of new collagen. Collagen is a key component in tissue repair and wound healing, making this yet another way HBOT speeds recovery.
HBOT for Pre-and Post-Operative Care
Patients reap HBOT’s benefits for tissue repair during both pre- and post-operative care. Here’s an overview of how you can benefit from HBOT before and after surgery:
Pre-Surgical Conditioning
If you’re worried about recovering from an upcoming surgical procedure, consider pre-operative HBOT. This therapy can prepare you for a smooth recovery and faster tissue repair. Advantages of HBOT before surgery include:
- More effective antibiotics
- Stronger healed tissue
- Decreased risk of infection
- Increased blood vessel production
Post-Surgical Healing
We most often talk about HBOT in the weeks after surgery. Post-operative HBOT can significantly accelerate the tissue healing process, reduce inflammation, and minimize the risk of infection. This therapy is especially recommended for patients undergoing major surgeries, those with chronic wounds, and individuals with conditions that impede natural healing processes.
A Closer Look at HBOT Tissue Repair Benefits
HBOT has wide-ranging impacts on tissue repair. And the evidence isn’t just anecdotal—there are dozens of scientific, peer-reviewed studies confirming the benefits of this surgical tissue repair therapy. Learn more about some of the ways HBOT enhances surgical outcomes:
Wound Healing
Wound healing is one of HBOT’s most important applications. Patients with diabetic wounds and traumatic injuries have greatly benefited from therapy. A review of the literature surrounding HBOT reveals this treatment influences tissue regeneration and yields overwhelmingly positive results. Studies show that approximately 20% of diabetics will have a chronic non-healing wound that puts them at risk for amputation. If HBOT is added to their wound care protocol, 87% of these patients can avoid the amputation.
Muscle and Nerve Regeneration
General tissue repair isn’t the only benefit of HBOT sessions. One study showed that treatment promotes blood vessel formation and muscle regeneration. Similarly, other studies confirmed HBOT has benefits for nerve and bone regeneration and stroke recovery2.
Compromised Skin Grafts
Skin grafting procedures are a common way of addressing wounds. However, those with poor circulation may have a harder time recovering from a skin graft. Applying HBOT to these patients has shown immense promise, improving graft survival and procedure success. Compromised flaps are also effectively treated with HBOT3.
Burn Healing
One of the early uses of HBOT was in hospital burn centers. Research shows that HBOT is an efficient way to preserve tissue in patients with burn wounds. HBOT may be especially beneficial in cases where a patient has significant damage to the face, hands, ears, and nose. Moreover, HBOT has antibacterial properties, further benefiting those struggling with noticeable burn wounds3.
Ask Us How HBOT Can Help You
HBOT has the potential to revolutionize tissue repair and post-surgical healing. Whether you’re concerned about wound healing after a traumatic injury or a moderate burn, this therapy could be the solution you’ve been searching for. At Baromedical Associates, we work with patients in the Dallas Metro Area and beyond, bringing them exceptional tissue repair treatments. For more information on HBOT and whether it’s right for you, contact our team and request an appointment.