Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2014 Feb;133(2):208e-215e.
doi: 10.1097/01.prs.0000436849.79161.a4.

Does hyperbaric oxygen therapy work in facilitating acute wound healing: a systematic review

Phillip B Dauwe  1 , Benson J Pulikkottil, Lawrence Lavery, James M Stuzin, Rod J Rohrich
Affiliations

Does hyperbaric oxygen therapy work in facilitating acute wound healing: a systematic review

Phillip B Dauwe et al. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2014 Feb.

Abstract

Background: Adjunctive hyperbaric oxygen therapy is a safe and effective modality with which to increase tissue oxygenation and aid in healing of difficult wounds. The majority of the literature surrounding hyperbaric oxygen therapy supports its use in chronic wounds, but its use in acute wounds, flaps, and grafts is less well supported.

Methods: The authors reviewed the Ovid, PubMed, and Cochrane Library databases, and selected studies, level III and above, using hyperbaric oxygen therapy in the treatment of complicated acute wounds, flaps, and grafts.

Results: A total of eight studies were found to meet criteria for evaluation of adjunctive hyperbaric oxygen therapy in the treatment of complicated acute wounds, flaps, and grafts.

Conclusions: When combined with standard wound management principles, hyperbaric oxygen therapy can augment healing in complicated acute wounds. However, it is not indicated in normal wound management. Further investigation is required before it can be recommended as a mainstay in adjuvant wound therapy.

Clinical question/level of evidence: Therapeutic, II.

PubMed Disclaimer

References

    1. Boerema I. An operating room with high atmospheric pressure. Bull Soc Int Chir. 1962;21:170–176
    1. McFarlane RM, Wermuth RE. The use of hyperbaric oxygen to prevent necrosis in experimental pedicle flaps and composite skin grafts. Plast Reconstr Surg. 1966;37:422–430
    1. Friedman HI, Fitzmaurice M, Lefaivre JF, Vecchiolla T, Clarke D. An evidence-based appraisal of the use of hyperbaric oxygen on flaps and grafts. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2006;117(Suppl):175S–190S
    1. Stong BC, Jacono AA. Effect of perioperative hyperbaric oxygen on bruising in face-lifts. Arch Facial Plast Surg. 2010;12:356–358
    1. Snyder SM, Beshlian KM, Hampson NB. Hyperbaric oxygen and reduction mammaplasty in the previously irradiated breast. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2010;125:255c–257e

Publication types

LinkOut - more resources