Diabetic Foot and Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy

Overview

Diabetic foot lesions are a major problem with a high morbidity, mortality and financial impact. Amputation rates cause a significant disability of the patients in spite of aggressive therapy. In this short review attention is focused on the possibility to reduce amputations and subsequent complications of diabetes mellitus with hyperbaric oxygen therapy. The patients should be treated twice daily at a pressure of 0.25-0.28 MPa for 90-120 minutes of oxygen breathing, 2-3 treatments, in refractory cases more treatment is required. When the infection in under control and the soft tissue improves treatment once daily is adequate. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy significantly reduces major amputations, the length of hospital stay, reduces economic costs and prevents amputations. This manifests favourably in our patients and our society as a whole.

Key words:
diabetic foot - hyperbaric oxygen therapy