Breast cancer survivors experiencing complications from radiation treatment or undergoing reconstruction surgery or augmentation after radiation treatments, benefit from adjunctive hyperbaric oxygen therapy by its ability to:

• Supersaturate the previously radiated breast tissue with oxygen to better prepare the surgical site. Pre- and post-operatively in a previously radiated breast for reconstruction or augmentation promotes a healthy recovery by creating new pathways for oxygen to be delivered (angiogenesis) and reducing edema and fibrosis.

• Salvage skin grafts and flaps (pedicled or free). Commonly seen at a transverse rectus abdominis myocutaneous (TRAM) procedure site where skin and tissue are extracted from the stomach for breast reconstruction surgery, the compromised graft or flap must receive oxygen to heal to prevent the need for regrafting and repeat flap procedures.

• Promote healing of non-healing wounds and infections. Frequently seen at the post-operative reconstruction site, to maximize oxygen delivery to hypoxic tissue and boost the effectiveness of antibiotic therapies. Helps promote collagen production and resolve infections combined with antibiotic and surgical debridement, by augmenting the transport of certain antibiotics across bacterial cell walls (antibiotic transport does not occur if oxygen tension levels are below 20 to 30 mmHg).

• Preserve microcirculation. Hyperbaric oxygen allows for better circulation in acute peripheral arterial insufficiencies through angiogenesis (creation of new capillaries and blood vessels) which reverses the vascular changes induced by radiation if significant fibrosis and ischemia have not already occurred.

• Helps heal ischemic-reperfused soft tissues and skeletal muscle. Hyperbaric medicine adjunctively works with traditional treatment protocols to rid the body of necrotizing soft tissue infections (including necrotizing fasciitis, chronic osteomyelitis, non-clostridial myonecrosis, crepitant anaerobic cellulitis, zygomycosis, and gas gangrene).

WHEN TO CALL HYOX:

• Prior to surgery in a previously radiated breast when viable tissue is needed for successful reconstruction or augmentation surgery.

• Immediately when signs a flap or graft is compromised in irradiated tissue in the breast or abdominal area from a TRAM, or in cases of decreased perfusion or hypoxia appear by clinical judgment or by transcutaneous oximetry and laser Doppler studies.

• Immediately, when a post-surgical site shows signs of dehiscence, necrosis, blistering, erythema (swelling), and infection.