Pre/Post Surgery
Treatments before and after surgery can be helpful to ensure the best possible outcome for the patient. Pre-surgery treatments help prepare the body by reducing inflammation, improving overall health, and decreasing the risk of complications, while post-surgery treatments promote healing, prevent infections, and may reduce pain and swelling.
OxyGeneration provides HBOT (hyperbaric oxygen therapy or hyperbaric oxygenation therapy) for patients before and/or after surgery. During HBOT, patients spend ≥60 minutes breathing near 100% oxygen in a special pressurised chamber. The increased pressure helps the body absorb more oxygen, which helps repair damaged tissues, reduces inflammation, and supports the body’s natural healing processes after surgery.
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is a safe procedure with few side effects for patients undergoing surgery. HBOT is used both before and after surgery to increase oxygen delivery to tissues and improve the outcome and decrease the risk of surgery, particularly in high-risk patients.
How HBOT Works for Neurological Conditions
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy at OxyGeneration before or after surgery, involves breathing near 100% oxygen through an oxygen mask while sitting in a chamber in which the pressure is higher than atmospheric pressure for ≥1.0 hours for multiple sessions. HBOT may help clients undergoing surgery in several ways.
1. Increases Oxygen Supply:
Before surgery, especially in clients with poor blood flow, HBOT can be useful as it increases the oxygen in blood and tissues, ensuring that even areas with poor blood flow get enough oxygen, which can help the body prepare for surgery.
2. New Blood Vessel Growth:
HBOT encourages the body to grow new blood vessels. To heal surgical wounds, new blood vessels are needed and HBOT speeds up healing by increasing the growth and repair of blood vessels.
3. Reduces Inflammation:
Surgery can cause inflammation, which may slow the healing of the site of the surgery (e.g. the wound or the stitches). HBOT can reduce inflammation, speeding up healing and preventing complications.
4. Reduces Swelling:
Some types of surgery may cause swelling (oedema), HBOT causes blood vessels to become narrower, which reduces swelling.
5. Fights Infection:
HBOT boosts the ability of white blood cells to fight off infections. The higher oxygen levels also make it harder for harmful bacteria to thrive, helping to prevent infections. These effects can help to reduce the risk of infection.
6. Supporting Bone Growth:
In clients with broken bones, HBOT increases the number of bone cells and promotes bone formation, helping bones mend more quickly..
Benefits of HBOT Before and After Surgery
HBOT offers several key benefits both before and after surgery, as part of a comprehensive treatment plan:
Enhanced recovery:
HBOT can speed up the recovery process by promoting wound healing, particularly in clients with diseases like diabetes that can slow down healing. This means people can recover quicker from their surgery.Fewer infections:
HBOT can enhance a client’s immune function and reduce microbial growth, reducing the risk of infection after surgery.Reduced pain:
By reducing inflammation and swelling, HBOT can ease pain and enhance client comfort.Better outcomes:
By increasing the amount of oxygen in tissues and reducing pain and inflammation, HBOT can speed up healing, prevent complications and reduce recovery time.
Clinical Evidence and Practical Considerations
Many clinical trials show that hyperbaric oxygen therapy before and after surgery can speed up healing and reduce complications, particularly for clients with conditions like diabetes that disrupt healing. For example, HBOT before surgery can improve outcomes for diabetic foot ulcers. HBOT can also reduce complications after surgery for crush injuries, complicated bone fractures, tummy tucks and is also useful in knee and breast reconstruction surgeries and cases involving skin grafts/flaps. By improving blood flow, reducing inflammation, and accelerating healing, HBOT can lead to better outcomes in many types of surgery.
Client Selection:
HBOT is part of the standard treatment plan for compound fractures, diabetic foot ulcers and non-healing wounds in many jurisdictions, however, increasingly it is being used in a preventative fashion pre-surgery, and as a default part of the post-surgery care plan for a wider range of conditions. Please note that OxyGeneration does not provide diagnostic services and is a treatment provider only. We strongly encourage all clients to consult with their medical team as appropriate.Treatment Protocols:
Treatments usually last 60 to 90 minutes per session and are conducted daily over several weeks. Every individual is different and we recommend consulting with your medical team about incorporating HBOT into your care plan. To help determine how many sessions each individual will require, new clients can speak with OxyGeneration staff prior to commencing their Hyperbaric Oxygenation Therapy.Monitoring Progress:
Regular assessments are crucial to track healing progress and adjust the treatment plan as necessary.
Client with Shin/Tendon Injury:
“I had a horrific injury on my shin. I had damaged nerves and tendons about eight years ago. I never really got any instant relief. Coming to OxyGeneration was a huge relief. After completing 20 sessions all scar tissue in my leg removed and I got full flexibility in my foot. I had three sessions this week for the current pain in my leg and I feel fantastic. I would highly recommend OxyGeneration for any kind of ailments and sports injuries.”
Conclusion
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) is a promising and effective treatment for diabetic foot ulcers. It helps wounds heal faster, reduces the risk of amputations, and improves the overall quality of life for patients. If you have a diabetic foot ulcer, talk to your doctor about whether HBOT is a suitable option for you.
For more information about Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy and its benefits, visit our website and consult with our healthcare professionals.
For further information on the use of HBOT for pre/post surgery, please visit our resources page by clicking the link below.