Necrotising soft-tissue infections with hyperbaric oxygen therapy as an adjunct: A tertiary care experience

Abstract

We studied study the utility of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) therapy in necrotising soft-tissue infection and to evolve a protocol for management with multidisciplinary surgical management. During the period November 2011 to December 2019, 29 patients with necrotising soft-tissue infection subjected to HBO therapy during the management were enrolled in the study. All had diabetes mellitus as a comorbidity; 5 had Fournier's gangrene, 20 had necrotising soft-tissue infection involving the lower extremity and 4 patients had involvement of upper extremity. Three patients did not require any surgical intervention, while 26 patients required multiple surgical wound debridement, HBO and soft-tissue reconstruction. Our observations suggest that HBO therapy is a useful adjunct for surgery in the management of necrotising soft-tissue infections.

Keywords

• fournier's gangrene
• hyperbaric therapy
• necrotising fasciitis
• protocol