Oxygen therapy
Using concentrated oxygen to begin or speed the healing process
Oxygen therapy is based on the fact that all human cells, tissues, and organs need oxygen to function, and a number of health problems can occur when there is a lack of oxygen. Along those lines, when patient therapy uses concentrated oxygen, the goal is to enable cells to utilize the oxygen to begin or speed the healing process.
Some more frequent uses are as follows:
Diabetes and diabetic neuropathy
Over time, high blood sugar causes blood vessels to narrow and harden, reducing blood flow essential to the healing process. The combination of poor blood flow and diabetic neuropathy complicates wound recovery.
Limb salvage and crush injuries
Prevent the loss of the limb and preserve function when an arm or leg is severely injured or crushed.
Soft tissue damage and skin grafts
Survival of the skin graft depends on adequate oxygen and blood flow in both the wound and the transplanted skin. Obstacles to healing may occur when underlying chronic conditions that impact good circulation are present.
Delayed radiation injury
In some instances, radiation-related injuries can occur months or even years after the treatment has concluded. Delayed radiation injury most commonly occurs when radiation is used to treat cancers of the head, neck, breast, chest and pelvis (gynecological cancers). It is characterized by the destruction of blood vessels and the replacement of healthy tissue cells with thick, fibrous tissue.