News
Aspirus adds hyperbaric oxygen therapy to wound services
Jun 1, 2010
New wound center among few in state to feature advanced treatment
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WAUSAU, Wis. – The new Aspirus Wound & Hyperbaric Center is opening to patients at Aspirus Wausau Hospital on June 3.
Located on the third floor of the hospital, the Aspirus Wound & Hyperbaric Center provides comprehensive wound treatment and now features two hyperbaric chambers, making it one of only a handful of programs in the state to offer hyperbaric oxygen therapy.
“Adding hyperbaric oxygen therapy to our program allows us to offer patients the most advanced treatment options for chronic wounds that may be unresponsive to other forms of treatment,” said Robert Brebrick, M.D., Aspirus Wound Care Medical Director.
According to the American Diabetes Association, more than 7 million Americans suffer from chronic wounds, and that number is expected to double in the next 10 years. Locally, nearly 400 patients were treated for chronic wounds at the Aspirus Wound Clinic in 2009.
“For some patients, hyperbaric oxygen therapy is the only opportunity to heal a serious, chronic wound or even to save a limb,” said Matthew Clancy, M.D., Hyperbarics Medical Director at Aspirus. “A significant number of people can benefit from hyperbaric oxygen therapy because a major cause of chronic wounds is diabetes, which of course is a growing problem in this country.”
How it works
When patients undergo a hyperbaric oxygen therapy treatment, they are placed in an environment that is at greater-than-normal atmospheric pressure. This promotes healing by delivering more oxygen to deprived tissue at a partial pressure that is 15 to 20 times greater than normal.
The extra oxygen that is delivered to the infected tissue aids in killing bacteria, promotes new tissue growth and improves blood supply to the wound. All of these processes help heal wounds and enhance people’s quality of life.
For more information about hyperbaric oxygen therapy at Aspirus, please call the Aspirus Information Center at 715.847.2380 or 800.847.4707.