Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy in Ischaemic Foot Ulcers in Type 2 Diabetes: A Clinical Trial.

Sarah Perren,Alfred Gatt,Cynthia Formosa,Nikolaos Papanas

doi:10.2174/1874192401812010080

Sarah Perren, Alfred Gatt + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.2174/1874192401812010080

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Abstract

Background and Aims:Several treatment modalities and protocols for ischaemic foot ulcers are available. However, little consensus exists on optimal treatment. The aim of this study was to compare Standard Wound Care (SWC) alone vs. SWC with adjunct hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) in the treatment of ischaemic Diabetic Foot Ulcers (DFUs).Patients and Methods:Twenty-six patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) presenting with a newly diagnosed ischaemic foot ulcer were included. These were divided into group A (SWC with adjunct HBOT) and group B (SWC only). Participants were followed every week for 4 weeks and their ulcers were measured for their surface area and depth to assess any change in wound size.Results:Both treatment arms succeeded in reducing ulcer area and depth (p<0.001). However, ulcer area (p<0.001) and depth (p<0.001) exhibited superior improvement in group A.Conclusion :Adjunctive HBOT appears to improve wound healing in ischaemic DFUs and merits further study.

Highlights

Lower-extremity complications in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) have become an increasingly significant public health concern [1]
The present study has demonstrated that adjunct hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) enhances the reduction of ulcer area and depth at 4 weeks in Type 2 DM (T2DM) patients with ischaemic Diabetic Foot Ulcers (DFUs)
It has been postulated that HBOT improves long-term health related quality of life in patients with chronic diabetic foot ulcers possibly attributed to better ulcer healing [22, 23] as has been reported in this study

Summary

Introduction

Lower-extremity complications in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) have become an increasingly significant public health concern [1]. The global diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) prevalence was 6.3% (95% confidence interval (CI): 5.4-7.3%), which was higher in males (4.5%, 95%CI: 3.7-5.2%) than in females (3.5%, 95%CI: 2.8-4.2%), and higher in patients with type 2 (6.4%, 95%CI: 4.6-8.1%) than those with type 1 DM (5.5%, 95%CI: 3.2-7.7%) [2]. In an endeavour to improve healing rates, Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) has been used [13]. The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of HBOT added to SWC vs SWC alone in promoting healing of ischaemic DFUs. Several treatment modalities and protocols for ischaemic foot ulcers are available. The aim of this study was to compare Standard Wound Care (SWC) alone vs SWC with adjunct hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) in the treatment of ischaemic Diabetic Foot Ulcers (DFUs)

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