Suffolk Center Explains Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy for Elderly Patient Wound Care
At the Suffolk Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing, we’re always anxious to remain aware of and consider any treatments that could potentially benefit our aging patients, especially when it comes to addressing wound care. There are, of course, the common pressure wounds and skin tears that can be easily treated through prevention, strategy, cleansing, and dressing, but there are also certain wounds and situations which require a more advanced approach to care. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is one of these specialized forms of wound care.
Most often used to treat persistent infections and diabetes-related wounds, hyperbaric oxygen therapy involves the pressurized application of 100% oxygen to the patient’s body in order to facilitate healing. Science tells us that oxygen is beneficial to the healing process. This suggests that the application of a greater concentration of oxygen than normal may actually speed healing, which is an especially valuable benefit to aging patients whose immune systems are weaker and do not tend to work as quickly as they did earlier in life.
Most often, during hyperbaric oxygen treatment, the patient lies on a bed that is then slid into a tube, not vastly dissimilar from a CT scan procedure. While in the chamber, the patient is usually able to listen to music or watch television and is able to speak to the attending medical personnel if necessary.
It is important to note that hyperbaric treatment is not appropriate for every patient. While negative side-effects are rare, they do exist. Patients who react adversely to the treatments may suffer from decompression sickness, pressure-related injuries to the ears or nose, temporarily compromised eyesight or low blood sugar. Consult your medical team to determine whether or not hyperbaric treatment is a viable option in your particular case.
To learn more about the Suffolk Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing and all of the services they offer, visit https://centershealthcare.com/suffolk_center/.
