Topical Oxygen Promotes Healing of Leg Ulcers

Stanley Olejniczak, M.D., Andrew Zletinski, M.D., Ph.D

Medical Times - December 1976

Abstract
The authors report on their own experiences - and that of other clinicians-in the use of oxygen for the treatment of skin lesions and leg ulcers. Their studies suggest that this modality might be equally beneficial in postop healing and skin grafting.

The use of oxygen for the treatment of skin lesions is not new-it has been applied in high and low pressures, in sophisticated walk-in chambers, or in individual tanks, through simple funnel and via plastic bags. The time of treabnent has varied from several
hours" to 20 minutes. Our method consists of applying oxygen by means of a plastic bag over the ulcerated leg. We apply the treatment twice a day for 20 minutes, with pressure in the bag from 0-5 mm of Mercury. Saline solution dressings are applied between treatments to keep the edges of the ulcer from drying. The oxygen flow is usually 3.4 liters per minute to maintain 0-5 mm of Mercury pressure of oxygen in the bag, which is of transparent nylon-plastic material. It is placed over the extremity with a tourniquet of one inch webbing looped twice then closed with the attached velcro strap. We published the results of two years experience with this method of treatment in 1966. The best outcomes then were obtained in patients with stasis ulcerations and venous insufficiency. Over the ensuing years, as our experiences increased and the method grew in popularity, we were asked many questions about the amount of oxygen absorbed and its saturation in the granulation tissue. We also were asked other questions about how much oxygen pressure should be used in the bag for the best results. We know that oxygen absorbed in the lungs is carried away to all pans of the body by oxyhemoglobin with about 19.7 ml of oxygen in 100 ml of blood, and 0.3 ml of oxygen in 100 ml of plasma. The oxygen carried by plasma is immediately available to the cells and life could be sustained even without hemoglobin if sufficient saturation of plasma takes place.