Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is a medical treatment administered by delivering 100% oxygen at pressures greater than atmospheric (sea level) pressure to a patient in an enclosed chamber.
Hyperbaric oxygen acts as a drug, eliciting varying levels of response at different treatment depths, durations, and dosages. It has proven effective as adjunctive therapy for specifically indicated conditions.
Specially designed “chambers” safely administer the oxygen needed. The patient’s plasma is thereby saturated with oxygen and this increased oxygen activity enhances the body’s ability to heal:
How it works
- Saturates patient’s plasma with oxygen
- Increases oxygen delivery to oxygen-deprived areas
- Enhances white blood cell activity
- Reduces edema (swelling) by constricting blood vessels without causing oxygen deprivation
- Stimulates the formation of new blood vessels (angiogenisis)
- Blocks the toxic effects of carbon monoxide and cyanide
- Enhances the effect of some antibiotics
Approved Hyperbaric Indications
- Air or Gas Embolism
- Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
- Clostridial Myositis and Myonecrosis (Gas Gangrene)
- Crush Injury, Compartment Syndrome, Acute Traumatic Ischemia
- Decompression Sickness
- Enhancement of Healing in Selected Problem Wounds
- Exceptional Blood Loss (Anemia)
- Intracranial Abscess
- Necrotizing Soft Tissue Infections
- Osteomylitis (Refractory)
- Delayed Radiation Injury (Soft Tissue & Bony Necrosis)
- Skin Grafts and Flaps (Compromised)
- Thermal Burns
Areas of Current Reasearch in Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy
- Restenosis rates after stenting
- Radiation Injury
- Chronic Stroke
- Traumatic Head Injury
The Program
The Serena Group Team is working to provide the most comprehensive treatment for acute and chronic wounds across all patient care settings, from the latest advances in chronic wound treatment and prevention to clinical research and hyperbaric medicine.
We have assembled comprehensive options for our hospital clients that offers:
- State-of-the-art medical treatment to an ever expanding patient population
- New revenue stream for the Hospital with low start-up costs
- Turn-key management options
- Policies and Procedures for both Wound Care and Hyperbaric Medicine
- Electronic Medical Records
- Physician and staff training in basic wound care and hyperbaric services to obtain required UHMS certification.
- Development of a safety program and installation of a Safety Director
- Assistance in center design and architecture
- Billing assistance
- Marketing
- Review of center utilization
- Participation in clinical research programs
Serena Group is recognized internationally as being in the forefront of research and innovative practice. Our large patient base affords us the ability to conduct clinical trials for all of the major pharmaceutical companies in the world. We conduct research at all of our wound care clinics, which has resulted in 75 published papers and over 175 presentations world wide.
Ancillary Benefits of Wound Care and Hyperbaric Medicine
- Reduce length of stay!
Direct Savings in our Program
Cellulitis
- Typical LOS: 7 days
- Patient discharged to Wound Clinic. Reduce LOS to 3 to 4 days
Diabetic Foot Ulcer with infection
- Typical LOS: 7 – 10 days
- Wound Clinic can reduce LOS by 3 to 6 days
Pressure Ulcers - SerenaGroup™ Education and Prevention Program
- Early consultation with Wound Care Team
- Prevent Stage II ulcers from becoming Stage 3 and Stage 4
- Reduce LOS for these patients
- Reduce probability of litigation
- Reduce possibility of CMS intervention
Recent Observations in Hyperbaric Studies
At our Erie, PA, clinic, 39 year old woman presented with intractable diarrhea and abdominal pain resulting from radiation proctitis. The disease had failed to respond to standard out-patient treatment. The patient was hospitalized for parenteral nutrition and bowel rest. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy was initiated on the day of admission. After only 4 hyperbaric treatments, the patient was discharged to the clinic. After one additional week of Hyperbaric therapy, the patient’s proctitis had resolved. We have had similar outcomes with other patients suffering from the adverse effects of radiation therapy. The implications for reduced stay are clear.
