Oxygen as Medicine: The Transformative Potential of HBOT for Peripheral Artery Disease

September is Peripheral Artery Disease Awareness Month. 

More than 8.2 million Americans will experience a non‑healing wound in their lifetime, and many of those wounds will result from arterial insufficiency and PAD, however hope can be found with hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT).

Here's what the Save A Leg Save A Life Foundation has to say about PAD Awareness Month:

The public does not understand the consequences of peripheral arterial disease, critical limb ischemia and amputation. In the US, it is estimated that at least 50% of lower extremity amputations are performed as a first line intervention and without prior vascular testing. This is unacceptable.

The team of doctors, clinicians, allied healthcare, and business professionals at CūtisCare couldn’t agree more. And we’re doing something about it.

One of the most common causes of peripheral artery disease is atherosclerosis, often called hardening of the arteries. 

Coronary and peripheral artery disease in patients with diabetes can also lead to severe neurovascular complications, including amputations and other chronic issues.

Like the Save A Leg Save A Life Foundation, one of our primary goals is to reduce lower extremity amputations through education and state-of-the-art HBOT therapy and treatment plans. We also believe in the power of a comprehensive wound-care team.  

Early diagnosis and treatment are crucial to successful outcomes when treating chronic wounds exacerbated or caused by PAD. Making early symptom identification & intervention also critical. Early warning signs can include:

• Leg or foot ulcers or injuries that exhibit delayed or ineffective healing.

• Skin displaying a bluish or pale-gray hue.

• Sensations of discomfort, numbness, or a sensation of weight in the leg muscles, particularly during walking or ascending stairs.

• Impaired or nonexistent pulse in the legs or feet due to restricted blood flow.

• Lowered temperature of the affected limb, feels cold to the touch

• Slow nail and hair growth on the affected limb. 

Early treatment of lower extremity wounds with HBOT can be a game-changer.

HBOT Treatments are non-invasive and can be administered over a period of several hours. The treatments involve breathing pure oxygen in a pressurized environment, or hyperbaric chamber. 

Breathing oxygen in a pressurized chamber enables the patient’s blood to carry more dissolved oxygen to a wound site, increasing the amount of oxygenated plasma that is dissolved in the damaged tissue.

This healing mechanism can significantly expedite the healing process and decrease lower extremity amputation rates when used as part of a comprehensive treatment plan.

Would you like to learn more about HBOT treatment solutions?

At CūtisCare, our delivery models are designed to fill a critical void that exists in the wound care, treatment, and healing space. 

We are a healing-centric, compliance-driven organization providing innovative, effective, purpose-built clinical solutions for wound care and treatment. Our solutions are uniquely crafted to augment the staffing and clinical strengths of our diverse group of partners.  

Get in touch with one of the dedicated professionals on our HBOT leadership team today.