First Experience in the Treatment of Chronic Venous Ulcers with Topical Oxygen Therapy in an Out-Patient setting in Latvia

Aleksandra Kuspelo

Aim

We want to share our first experience with Topical Oxygen* (TO) in Latvia using a topical oxygen chamber using cycling pressure as an additional method in the treatment of venous ulcers

Method

The patients were treated daily with TO therapy for 60 five times a week. Prior to each treatment, the patients wound dressings were removed and the wound bed was irrigated with a normal saline solution. The TO device delivered humidified medical grade oxygen at a cycling pressure between 5 and 50mbar. After each treatment patient received compression stockings of the 2nd functional class or short-stretch compression bandage. Weekly assessments of the wound as well as pictures were taken to document the wound area, volume and changes in each from the previous assessment.

Results

We treated 8 patients in total. Four patients with chronic atrophic ulcers of venous aetiology completed treatment with a full ulcer epithelisation (number of treatments – from 13 to 21). Four additional patients with venous ulcers are still receiving treatment as not all patients started at the same time. These patients received 8 to 13 treatments so far and all show good progression of the wound.

Conclusion

First experience of using TO is very positive. Patients with severe venous ulcers benefit from treatment with TO and show remarkable wound closure rates.