Hyperbaric oxygentherapy as an adjuvant in the treatment of diabetic foot

Abstract

Diabetic foot ulcers affect about 20 % of patients. They affect the quality of life and increase the risk of mortality, as main complication. Treatment currently includes the use of drugs and surgical debridement of the ulcerated tissue. Among its coadjuvant therapies, the use of hyperbaric oxygen therapy stands out as it reduces the risk of complications. This study seeks to describe the use of hyperbaric oxygen therapy as an adjuvant in the treatment of diabetic foot. A literature review was conducted using databases: PubMed, Elsevier, SciELO, and in Spanish and English languages, published between 2018 and 2023. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy consists of placing the patient in a higher-pressure environment, with oxygen concentrations close to 100 %, resulting in anti-inflammatory effects. The approach to the diabetic foot should be multidisciplinary in order to achieve early recovery, including a pharmacological approach to manage neuropathic pain and cure infections. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy has been considered as a coadjuvant treatment by increasing the percentage
of complete healing to 33.3 %, facilitating healing, increasing and reducing the perceived pain. It concluded that there are publications that support the use of hyperbaric oxygen therapy in addition to conventional therapy, because it improves the healing rate and reduces the risk of major amputations.