PRE-SURGERY
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) offers significant benefits when used pre-surgery, primarily due to its ability to enhance tissue oxygenation and promote healing processes. Before surgical procedures, particularly in cases where tissue damage or infection is present, HBOT can significantly increase the oxygen concentration in the blood. This heightened oxygen level helps in preparing the body for surgery by improving the function of white blood cells, which are crucial for fighting infections. This is especially beneficial in conditions like diabetic ulcers or radiation injuries where compromised blood flow and oxygen delivery can impede healing. By preconditioning the body with increased oxygen levels, HBOT can reduce the risk of postoperative infections, a common and serious complication in surgeries involving tissues with poor vascularization.
Moreover, HBOT can stimulate angiogenesis, the growth of new blood vessels, which is vital for healing post-surgery. Enhanced blood flow and oxygen delivery to tissues not only aids in faster recovery but also in the regeneration of damaged tissues. For patients undergoing reconstructive surgeries or those with compromised healing capabilities, such as smokers or the elderly, this therapy can be particularly advantageous. It promotes a more robust healing environment before the surgical trauma occurs, potentially reducing the length of hospital stays and enhancing overall surgical outcomes. The preemptive use of HBOT can thus minimize complications, improve graft and flap survival rates in reconstructive surgeries, and generally fortify the body’s resilience against surgical stress, making it an extremely beneficial pre-surgical treatment strategy.
POST-SURGERY
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) post-surgery offers numerous benefits primarily due to its ability to accelerate healing and combat infection. After surgery, tissues are often hypoxic (lacking oxygen) due to the trauma of the surgical procedure. HBOT works by increasing the pressure and thus the concentration of oxygen in the blood, which significantly enhances oxygen delivery to these hypoxic tissues. This increase in oxygen levels not only helps in wound healing by promoting collagen production and fibroblast activity but also boosts the immune response, making it more effective against bacteria that thrive in low-oxygen environments. Consequently, post-surgical HBOT can markedly reduce the risk of infections, which is particularly crucial in surgeries involving areas with poor blood supply or in patients with conditions like diabetes where healing can be compromised.
Additionally, HBOT post-surgery aids in reducing edema and inflammation, common issues that can delay recovery. The therapy’s ability to decrease swelling is due to its vasoconstrictive effects, which help in reducing fluid leakage from blood vessels into the tissues. This reduction in swelling can alleviate pain, improve mobility, and enhance overall comfort during the recovery period. Furthermore, HBOT encourages the formation of new blood vessels (angiogenesis) in the affected area, which is vital for long-term healing and tissue regeneration. This vascular growth not only supports faster recovery but also improves the long-term health of the surgical site, potentially preventing complications like chronic wounds or delayed healing. Thus, HBOT post-surgery not only speeds up the healing process but also contributes to better surgical outcomes and patient comfort.
Please be aware that the services offered on this platform are with U.S. physicians via a virtual 2nd opinion service. Diagnosis may differ when the physician has had the opportunity to provide an in-person examination. The absence of the in-person examinations can affect the accuracy of the diagnosis and resulting opinion. Please also be aware that a virtual 2nd opinion will not establish a provider-patient relationship. The provide patient relationship can only be established when the patient signs a consent to treatment form in the physician’s physical clinic location in the United States.