Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy for Treatment of Gas Gangrene

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is an FDA-approved treatment for gangrene.

Clostridium, a bacteria that creates gas, is the culprit behind gas gangrene, an ailment that is exceedingly hazardous and is caused by the bacterium. This bacteria not only allows gas to become trapped under the skin, which ultimately results in the death of human tissue, but it also causes the wound to become contaminated with bacteria.

Symptoms, which might include high fevers, blisters, and persistent inflammation, frequently present themselves within a short period of time and worsen in a very short length of time. Other times, the symptoms do not present themselves until much later.

The goal of the treatment for gas gangrene known as hyperbaric oxygen therapy is, in a nutshell, to lower inflammation and stop the bacteria that caused the infection from spreading to other parts of the body.

In this post, we delve deep into the topic of gangrene and discuss why hyperbaric oxygen therapy is an excellent option for those looking for treatment in Morris County, New Jersey.

What is gas gangrene?

Gangrene is a condition that results in the death of body tissue.

Clostridial myonecrosis, also known as gas gangrene, is a form of gangrene that is caused by a bacterial infection brought on by Clostridium bacteria.

This form of gangrene spreads rapidly and has the potential to be fatal. Because of the infection, toxins start to accumulate in the tissues, cells, and blood vessels of the body.

These bacteria will emit toxins, which will cause death to the surrounding tissue, and they will also release a gas.

The majority of gangrene infections arise after an injury or surgery that leaves open wounds that are then subjected to bacterial contamination.

The less common form of gas gangrene known as non-traumatic gas gangrene can occur when the blood supply to human tissues is disrupted and germs are allowed to enter the affected area.

People who suffer from peripheral vascular disease, atherosclerosis, or diabetes mellitus have an increased likelihood of developing the condition.

Gas gangrene can affect any part of the body, however, the arms and legs are the most prevalent sites of infection for this condition.

Increasing heart rate, temperature, and the feeling that there is air under the skin are common symptoms. In addition, the skin in the affected area becomes pale, and then, after some time has passed, it either becomes dark red or purple.

These symptoms typically begin to manifest anywhere from six to forty-eight hours after the first infection and advance extremely rapidly.

Antibiotics and surgical removal of the diseased tissue are both potential treatment options. On occasion, an oxygen chamber designed for usage at high pressure may be utilized.

Debridement, which refers to the removal of dead tissue, and amputation are both components of surgery.

The condition known as gas gangrene is extremely uncommon. However, if it is not treated in a timely manner, it can rapidly progress into a life-threatening illness.

What causes gas gangrene?

Gas gangrene can be diagnosed after a thorough physical examination and the administration of several different tests by a medical professional. The following are some examples of these diagnostic tests:

a skin culture test checks for the presence of Clostridium perfringens and other bacteria.
blood tests to look for an abnormally high white blood cell count, which may be an indication of an infection.
Imaging examinations to see tissues and check for the presence of gas, such as a routine X-ray, or specialized studies, such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or an arteriogram.
A surgical procedure to assess how far gas gangrene has gone throughout the body

Clostridium perfringens bacteria is the most prevalent cause of gas gangrene. It is also caused by group A Streptococcus bacteria in some cases. The infection appears quickly and spreads rapidly.

Gas gangrene is a condition that typically manifests itself after a recent operation or injury. In extremely unusual situations, it could happen suddenly and without any clear explanation as to why it happened.

Gas gangrene can be caused by a variety of injuries, including:

damage to the muscles
badly damaged tissues
deep wounds
wounds polluted with excrement or soil, particularly those on farms

If you have:

artery disease
diabetes
cancer of the colon
frostbite
fractures that have not yet healed
injected drugs into your muscles with a contaminated needle

What are the symptoms of gas gangrene?

In the affected area, gas gangrene causes excruciating pain.

The area appears enlarged and pale at first, but it gradually turns red, bronze, and lastly blackish green.

To the touch, the area feels firm and tender. Large blisters are common.

After the infection has progressed, gas bubbles may be visible within the blister or felt beneath the skin.

The fluids pouring from the wound have a foul odor (putrid). People get feverish, sweaty, and agitated very rapidly. It is possible that they will vomit.

The heart rate and breathing rate increase often.

The skin of certain persons turns yellow, signifying jaundice. Toxins produced by microorganisms induce these side effects.

People are usually alert until late in the illness when they develop dangerously low blood pressure (shock) and coma.

Kidney failure and death are not far behind. Infected persons die in 100% of cases if they are not treated, usually within 48 hours.

Even with treatment, around one out of every four persons dies.

This illness spreads so quickly that visible changes in the skin of the affected area can be seen in as little as a few minutes.

What is the treatment for gas gangrene?

Gas gangrene treatment must begin right away. High dosages of antibiotics will be provided intravenously, or through a vein, once a diagnosis has been made.

In more critical cases, treatment may be required prior to the completion of diagnostic tests.

Dead or contaminated tissue must be surgically removed as soon as possible. In order to improve blood flow to the affected area, a doctor may try to repair damaged blood vessels.

A skin transplant is a sort of reconstructive surgery that can be used to heal damaged tissues.

A doctor will take healthy skin from an unaffected portion of your body and attach it to the injured spot during a skin graft.

Any skin damage produced by gas gangrene can be repaired with this treatment.

Amputation of a limb may be required in severe cases of gas gangrene to prevent the illness from spreading to the rest of your body.

Patients may be equipped with a prosthetic limb once the wound has healed. This is a prosthetic limb that can be connected to the amputation site to replace the lost limb.

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy for gas gangrene

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is used by some doctors and hospitals to treat gas gangrene.

By boosting the amount of oxygen in the blood, hyperbaric oxygen therapy speeds up the body’s natural healing process.

The treatment is performed in an enclosed room with gradually increasing oxygen and pressure.

To operate effectively, body tissue needs an adequate amount of oxygen. Injured tissue demands even more oxygen in order to heal.

Many wounds that are difficult to heal are “hypoxic” (deprived of oxygen). By supplying oxygen to these wounded areas, hyperbaric oxygen therapy speeds up the healing process.

Hyperbaric oxygen treatment was first used to treat decompression sickness and other diving difficulties, but it is now utilized to treat a wide range of diseases, including life-threatening crises including gas gangrene.

There is a subgroup of anaerobic bacteria known as clostridium bacteria.

This indicates that they flourish best in surroundings with a low oxygen content, which is their preference.

Their capacity to multiply or create exotoxin is hindered when they are placed in surroundings that include a high concentration of oxygen.

After a diagnosis of gas gangrene has been made, medical practitioners should react swiftly to both halt and stop the infection’s spread, and then proceed to remove any damaged tissue.

One of the most effective initial treatment choices is hyperbaric oxygen therapy, which helps to halt the further spread of the illness and makes it possible for antibiotics to help stop the infection.

The rapid administration of hyperbaric oxygen therapy can buy the patient and the medical teams considerable time, which can be used to aid in the patient’s recovery.

The advantages of early hyperbaric oxygen therapy are as follows:

it saves lives since less heroic surgery is required in terminally sick patients and alpha-toxin generation is quickly stopped
it saves limbs and tissue because no large amputations or excisions are performed prematurely (except the opening of wounds)
it helps in enhancing the line of demarcation, allowing for a clear difference between dead and still-living tissue within 24 to 30 hours.
amputations are minimized in both number and extent in this method.

Try hyperbaric oxygen therapy for gas gangrene and other health conditions in Morris County, NJ

Gas gangrene needs immediate treatment and hyperbaric oxygen therapy is an effective form of treatment to slow the infection from spreading.

If you suspect that you have a case of gas gangrene and live in the Morris County, NJ area, contact HBOT USA as soon as possible.

Our hyperbaric experts are highly experienced in the treatment and healing of gas gangrene.