Abbott Northwestern opens Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Program
Minneapolis, MN 11/05/2008--
Hyperbaric chambers are often associated with emergency carbon monoxide poisoning treatment, because those dramatic cases make the news. Abbott Northwestern Hospital’s three new single-person hyperbaric chambers are located in the hospital’s Wound Clinic.
“Hyperbaric oxygen therapy can activate the body’s own ability to repair itself,” says vascular surgeon Alex Tretinyak, M.D. “Hyperbaric therapy can dramatically improve certain wounds where the healing process has stalled. This can translate into less suffering, fewer infections and fewer amputations.”
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy will be used in the treatment of patients who are experiencing diabetic foot wounds; chronic bone infections; compromised skin grafts and surgical incisions; and radiation damage to soft tissue and bone.
Each patient receives about 20 treatments. During therapy, the patient lies inside a hyperbaric chamber, which is a 1,800-pound clear acrylic vessel, and receives 100 percent pure oxygen that is two or three times the normal atmospheric pressure.
Abbott Northwestern officials say ten to 15 percent of the Wound Clinic’s patients could benefit from the new program.
Abbott Northwestern Hospital is part of Allina Hospitals & Clinics, a not-for-profit health care system of hospitals, clinics and other patient care services that provides exceptional care to communities throughout Minnesota and western Wisconsin and employs more than 22,000 people. Allina Hospitals & Clinics facilities, services and jobs can be found online at www.allina.com.
More about Abbott Northwestern Hospital
Abbott Northwestern Hospital is part of Allina Hospitals & Clinics, a not-for-profit health care system of hospitals, clinics and other patient care services that provides exceptional care to communities throughout Minnesota and western Wisconsin and employs more than 22,000 people.
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