title: Evaluation of hyperbaric oxygen therapy for free flaps using planar optical oxygen sensors. Preliminary results.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study was designed to determine if a) hyperbaric oxygen increases the tissue oxygenation of free flaps and b) verification of this effect is possible by using a recently validated and innovative method for two-dimensional pO₂ measurement (Luminescence lifetime imaging = LLI).
  
  
  METHODS
  Six patients with a free parascapular flap transplanted to the lower limb received hyperbaric oxygen (HBOT) therapy. The HBOT regimen consisted of treatment over 90 minutes with 100% O₂ (FiO₂ 1.0) at 240 kPa (Marx-Schema). The transcutaneous oxygen partial pressure (ptcO₂) was measured over the entire flap with the use of luminescence lifetime imaging (LLI) before and 30, 60, 120 minutes after treatment. The LLI is based on the oxygen dependent quenching of phosphorescence of the indicator dye platinum (II)-octaethyl-porphyrin implemented in a polystyrene sensor foil.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In all six free flaps we could find a significant increase of tissue oxygen over the entire flap in form of increased R-values as well as subsequently calculated absolute ptcO₂ values over a period of 120 min after hyperbaric therapy. The ptcO₂ values increased significantly from 42.59 ± 1.11 Torr before to 81.14 ± 5.95 Torr after hyperbaric treatment (p < 0.001). Even after 2 hours the ptcO₂ values were significantly higher (83.45 ± 13.80 Torr) compared with values prior to HBOT (p < 0.006).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings of this study demonstrated an increase of oxygen supply over the entire flap after hyperbaric oxygen therapy.
authors.affiliation: Center of Plastic, Hand and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Trauma Surgery, University Hospital Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gehmert
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Geis
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lamby
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Roll
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Braumandl
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hidayat
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sultan
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Fuechtmeier
authors.forename: E M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Prantl
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D058752:Free Tissue Flaps; D006801:Humans; D006931:Hyperbaric Oxygenation / Q000379:methods*; D007869:Leg Injuries / Q000601:surgery* / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D055096:Optical Devices; D010100:Oxygen / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000378:metabolism; D010313:Partial Pressure; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D010100:Oxygen