Oxygen therapy helps to promote healing
CLOVIS, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) – Hyperbaric treatment is an oxygen-infused treatment that allows more oxygen into the bloodstream to help wounds heal faster.
Local resident Antonina Cardinalli was in so much pain that she could no longer walk or put weight on her foot.
Doctors discovered a severe foot ulcer and used this power of oxygen to help Cardinalli get back on the road to recovery.
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Podiatrist at Community Regional Dr. Emmy Oji said the prognosis for Cardinalli’s foot was grim.
“She developed a wound under the foot and managed it, and then suddenly she developed this fungal type infection that spread from her lungs into her spine,” he said. “And even though our goal was limb salvage with such an extensive wound, there is a high risk of limb loss.”
The teams at Community worked quickly to save her foot from amputation.
“When you have such an extensive wound, it’s a team approach, a multi-team approach where you get an infectious disease onboard,” said Dr. Oji.
Cardinalli underwent several surgeries as doctors continued to work together to save her foot while at the same time providing excellent patient care.
“We see diabetic foot wounds, we see lower extremity venous faces, ulcers, and we see pressure injuries,” said Brian Chandler, Supervisor at the John C. Harris Center for Wound Healing. “So the simplest way is to think of hyperbaric: it just infuses your blood with 100% oxygen.”
All of her questions about the Hyperbaric Chamber were answered and after several oxygen therapy treatments, she is well on her way to recovery.
“I’m quite pleased,” said Dr. Oji. “This pendulum has swung to the other direction where I think, okay, she’s doing really well.”
