There is a substantial body of evidence that oxygen plays a vital role in enabling wound healing to take place. Many chronic wounds may be prevented from healing by low oxygen levels in the tissues (local hypoxia), and this remains a challenge to most clinical units, as no easy, quick and inexpensive measurement of this parameter is available for routine use.
Studies have been performed to show that by improving tissue oxygen levels, wound healing systems will restart the healing process as long as other considerations are addressed adequately, e.g. nutritional state.
The improvement in tissue oxygen levels does not have to be a massive one, for beneficial effects to be observed, and such rises can be obtained through topical application of oxygen
In a recent review article, Wild, Ebelstein, and Frye examined 27 published studies detailing the effects of Topical Oxygen Therapy on chronic wounds. In all 27 cited sources, beneficial effects were deemed to have been observed following the use of oxygen.
"Let it Breathe" said Granny
Allowing the wound to breathe, is not a new concept, and I think it is a common anecdote that Granny always encouraged us to allow the air (oxygen) to access the wound surface.
Egg Yolk and oxygen therapy
Many of the senior nurses we have approached with the NATROX™ concept have spontaneously mentioned that during their training, it was common practice to administer egg whisked up with oxygen bubbling through it entrapping oxygen in the mixture and making this available to the wound surface. Whilst this practice would no longer be deemed safe, it does show that an interest in the role of oxygen in wound healing has been around for decades, if not longer.
Moist wound healing
One of the interesting aspects of how the Natrox oxygen generator works, is that as a “by-product” of the electro chemical reaction, water vapour is produced. These newly formed molecules are sterile, and are used to humidify the oxygen flowing down the tube to the IODP. This humidified environment beneath the occlusive dressing is optimal for wound healing to occur.
RECENT
DOCUMENTS
Click on the titles below to download a PDF of the case study.