INTRODUCTION
Abington Memorial Hospital has treated wound and ostomy patients for many years. To accommodate the growing needs of these patients, a new facility was developed and our staff began seeing patients in July 1999.

The Comprehensive Wound Healing Center®, located at the Abington Memorial Health Center—Schilling Campus in Willow Grove and the Abington Memorial Health Center—Warminster Campus (formerly Warminster Hospital), provides treatment for non-healing and problem wounds. Problem wounds are common among diabetics and individuals with a range of other medical conditions, such as radiation tissue damage, that interfere with the body's natural healing process.

Our wound care team includes a physician team practicing in various medical specialties, as well as nursing staff with training in wound, ostomy and continence care, hyperbaric oxygen therapy and critical care. Physicians and nurses provide comprehensive patient assessment and implement a treatment plan in collaboration with a patient's primary or referring physician. The center's staff provides state-of-the-art topical treatment options, adjunctive therapies, non-invasive diagnostic studies, wound debridement, nutritional support, pressure relief devices for pressure wounds, compression therapy, hyperbaric oxygen therapy and physical therapy.

For more information about Abington Memorial Hospital's Comprehensive Wound Healing Center®, please call (215) 481-HEAL.

UNDERSTANDING Hyperbaric OXYGEN THERAPY
Pure Oxygen
Quite simply, hyperbaric oxygen therapy is pure oxygen. The air we normally breathe contains 21 percent oxygen. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy provides 100 percent pure oxygen within a pressurized chamber.

This hyperbaric, or high-pressure, dose of oxygen provides distinct therapeutic benefits and is used to treat a variety of illnesses, as well as problem wounds. It may be used as the primary treatment for some disorders, but it is often combined in treatment plans with antibiotics and surgery.

How It Works
During Hyperbaric oxygen therapy, you will breathe 100 percent oxygen while you are within the comfortable hyperbaric chamber. The chamber is pressurized as prescribed by your doctor.

The therapy greatly increases the amount of oxygen delivered to your body tissues by the bloodstream. It is important to understand that the benefits of hyperbaric oxygen therapy result from an oxygen enriched bloodstream and not from direct oxygen contact with wounds.

The Benefits
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy provides many benefits in treating certain illnesses and problem wounds. While your physician will discuss the specific reason for your referral to the Comprehensive Wound Healing Center® for this therapy, generally hyperbaric oxygen therapy provides one or more of the following benefits:

• Enhanced wound healing
• Stimulation of white blood cells, the body's material defense to infection
• New blood vessel formation (Neovascularization)
• Preservation of damaged tissues by increased oxygen delivery to injured tissues
• Reduction or elimination of the effects of toxic substances
• Reduction of gas-bubbles

WHAT TO EXPECT DURING THERAPY
A Comfortable Environment
During hyperbaric oxygen therapy, you will lie comfortably in the chamber and breathe normally. Typically, patients feel no differently than when lying in bed. You may listen to music, watch television or movies on the VCR or nap throughout therapy.

You may experience a sensation of fullness in your ears during a portion of the therapy. This sensation is similar to the mild pressure you may feel when flying, or driving up and down a mountain road, as your eardrums respond to the pressure changes associated with the changes in elevation. Prior to therapy, you will be taught several easy techniques to avoid ear pressure discomfort.

The Number of Treatments
The number of treatments you may receive during your course of hyperbaric oxygen therapy will depend on your individual needs. Patients with problem wounds often require 20 to 30 treatments to achieve maximum benefits.

The care team at the Comprehensive Wound Healing Center® will discuss your personal treatment plan with you before therapy begins. The exact number of treatments will depend, in large part, upon your body's response to hyperbaric oxygen therapy. The frequency of treatments varies for each individual, but typically outpatients receive treatments once a day, five days a week.

Minimal After-Effects
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy typically does not produce any after-effects. Like all medical treatments, however, hyperbaric oxygen therapy does present some risks. While these risks are quite rare, the care team will discuss them with you before you consent to therapy.

Occasionally, between treatments, some patients may experience a crackling sensation in the ears. This sensation can be easily relieved using the same techniques to relieve ear pressure that are used during therapy. If this sensation does persist, please report the problem to the Comprehensive Wound Center® care team.

A few patients have reported a sensation of lightheadedness for several minutes immediately after treatment. This sensation passes naturally and normal daily activities can be resumed. On rare occasions, patients may develop a temporary change in eyesight. In these extremely rare instances, any altered vision usually returns to pretreatment levels within six to eight weeks after the therapy has been completed.

PREPARING FOR THERAPY
The care team at the Comprehensive Wound Healing Center® will discuss specific preparations required before your therapy begins. All patients need to consider the following as part of their preparation for therapy:

No Smoking
Tobacco products constrict blood vessels and limit the delivery of blood and oxygen to the body's tissues.

List All Medications
It is very important that you provide a complete list of all medications, both prescribed and non-prescribed, you are taking to the care team at the Comprehensive Wound Healing Center®. Since some medications change the body's response to oxygen, the care team will discuss your individual medications with you prior to therapy.

Illness
Your therapy may have to be rescheduled if you experience any symptoms of illness. Please let the care team know immediately if you are experiencing fever, cough, sore throat, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, headache or generalized body aches.

If you need any further information about hyperbaric oxygen therapy, please call your physician or a member of the care team at the Comprehensive Wound Healing Center® at (215) 481- HEAL.