Adjunctive Hyperbaric Oxygen Reduces the Need for Surgery in 40-80% Burns.

Abstract

The burn wound is a hypoxic injury. Adjunctive hyperbaric oxygen therapy may attack this problem directly, supplying borderline tissue with oxygen, thus preventing dermal ischemia, reducing edema, and maintaining microvascular integrity. Preservation of marginally viable tissue should result in a lessened need for surgery. We report our experience with patients burned over 40-80% of their total body surface area, showing a significant reduction (P = < 0.041) in the need for surgery in patients receiving this additional therapy.