British Journal of Surgery © 2001 Blackwell Science Ltd.
Volume 88(5) May 2001 p 744
Role of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy in Ischaemic, Diabetic, Lower-Extremity Ulcers: a double-blind randomized controlled trial
[Surgical Research Society Abstracts]
Abidia, A.; Kuhan, G.; Laden, G.; Bahia, H.; Johnson, B.; Wilkinson, A.;
Renwick, P.; Masson, E.*; McCollum, P. T.
Department of Vascular Surgery, Academic Surgical Unit and *Department of
Medicine, Hull Royal Infirmary and The University of Hull, Hull, UK
Outline Section Description
Background:
Some 14-24 per cent of diabetic patients with ischaemic lower-extremity ulcers will require an amputation. Despite much effort toward the prevention of amputation in the past decade, the incidence of lower-extremity amputation in such patients continues to rise. This study aimed to evaluate the role of hyperbaric oxygen therapy in the management of this group of patients.
Methods:
Eighteen diabetic patients with ischaemic, nonhealing lower-extremity ulcers were recruited in this double-blind study. Patients were assigned randomly to receive either 100 per cent oxygen (treatment group) or air (control group), at 2.4 atmospheres of absolute pressure for 90 min daily, for a total of 30 treatments. Wound surface areas were
measured at baseline and then at 2, 4, 6 and 12 weeks, and 6 months.
Results:
At 12 weeks, healing with complete epithelialization was achieved in 13 of 19 ulcers in the treatment group compared with four of 14 ulcers in the control group (P=0.024, [chi]2 test). The mean(s.d.) decrease of the wound area in the treatment group was 83(36) per cent and that in the control group was 56(39) per cent (P=0.021, Mann-Whitney U test). There was no difference in major amputation rate between the two groups.
Conclusion:
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy enhanced the healing potential of ischaemic, non-healing, diabetic leg ulcers and may be used as a valuable adjunct to conventional therapy when reconstructive surgery is not possible.
Section Description
The following abstracts were presented to the 92nd meeting of the Surgical Research Society. The meeting was organized by the Academic Department of Surgery in Cork, Ireland, on 19-20 October 2000. Eighty-eight abstracts were presented during the scientific sessions. The Patey prize was awarded to A. J. Hayes for a paper entitled 'Expression and function of angiopoietin 1 in breast cancer'.
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