Continuing to celebrating Hyperbaric Medicine in May as Hyperbaric Awareness Month with the second part in this series: Hyperbaric Medicine Indications & Patient Selection. This article is from #HyperbaricAware #hyperbaricawareUSA
"The most obvious role of HBO2 in wound healing is its ability to provide oxygen to ischemic wounds."
"Currently 14 indications for HBO2 are recognized by the UHMS, with recommendations for treatment. What follows is an abbreviated description of each. NOTE: While these are effectively ‘snapshots’ of each indication we strongly recommend a thorough reading of each chapter in the UHMS Indications book to appreciate the full view for HBO2 treatment of these conditions.
Because the indication of arterial insufficiencies has a large subgroup of nine different illnesses it is presented first, followed by the closely related indications compromised grafts and flaps, and acute traumatic ischemias. The remaining indications appear separately as Parts 2 and 3.
ARTERIAL INSUFFICIENCIES: Considerations
Several types of problem wounds have been identified where HBO2 has been used with varying degrees of success. An important issue, however, is obtaining reimbursement for those indications. It is a losing proposition to treat all patients on this list without considering the reimbursement equation. With that in mind, the goal of this section is to allow a provider to answer guiding questions on the decision to use HBO2. Once these questions have been considered and indicate that HBO2 is a viable option it is incumbent on the provider to present this analysis to the payer in hopes of getting approval to use HBO2.
- Is tissue hypoxia a final common factor for why this wound is not healing?
- Have all interventions to improve wound healing been entertained?
- Is there enough evidence that HBO2 does improve wound healing?
- If HBO2 is used, for how long should it be used?
- Is there a means of objectively measuring a clinical response to HBO2?
Continue reading here for the rest of Hyperbaric Indications and Patient Selection Criteria Part 2 of 4.
Resources:
For the most up-to-date, complete guide for Hyperbaric Medicine Indications refer to The Undersea Hyperbaric & Medical Society, Hyperbaric Medicine Indications Manual, 15th Edition released by UHMS and Best Publishing Company, 2024.
New Clinics:
Are you starting a new hyperbaric and wound care clinic, or overhauling an existing program? Are you unsure where to start with regard to staff training and credentialing? Start Here: Wound Care Education Partners: New Clinics
Enroll in Introduction to Hyperbaric Medicine:
Wound Care Education Partners offer Introduction to Hyperbaric Medicine which will provide medical professionals with basic training or continuing education in hyperbaric medicine. Check it out here: https://www.woundeducationpartners.com/live-courses/hbo-courses.html
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