Hyperbarics & Wound Care

You need more than just a bandage if you have severe or chronic wounds. The Ochsner Hyperbarics & Wound Care team works in partnership with various disciplines to holistically manage and treat your wounds. We have physicians and nurses on staff with special training in hyperbaric medicine. Additionally, we work with other Ochsner specialists, including those in:

• Cardiology

• Ear, nose and throat (ENT)

• Endocrinology

• Vascular surgery

This comprehensive care level helps ensure you receive the full benefit of hyperbaric medicine or other advanced treatments.

We provide leading-edge wound care and hyperbaric medicine close to your home at multiple locations across the region:

• Ochsner Acadia General Hospital, 337-788-2014

• Ochsner Lafayette General Medical Center, 337-289-7198

• Ochsner Medical Center - New Orleans

• Ochsner Medical Center - West Bank Campus, 504-717-2580

• Ochsner Medical Center - Kenner, 504-464-8686

Wound care only:

• Ochsner University Hospital & Clinics, 337-261-6580

The Ochsner Hyperbarics & Wound Care program has Joint Commission accreditation. Our center at Ochsner Medical Center - Kenner has also been accredited by the Undersea and Hyperbarics Medical Society.

In addition, many of our team members are wound-care certified. Some also hold a Wound Treatment Associate certification from the Wound, Ostomy, and Continence Nurses Society.

Some people may need wound care after a significant injury. But many others need wound care for more minor injuries that won’t heal properly due to certain medical conditions, such as:

• Diabetes

• Poor circulation

• Immune system issues

• Kidney disease

• Nerve damage

At Ochsner, we specialize in treating the following problem wounds and conditions:

• Crush injuries

• Diabetic ulcers

• Pressure sores

• Radiation injuries

• Severe bone infections (osteomyelitis)

• Severe skin infections

• Skin grafts

• Slow- or non-healing wounds

• Surgical wounds

• Trauma to a limb causing tissue damage (traumatic peripheral ischemia)

There may be other conditions not listed that our advanced treatment options can help.

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) is the heart of our Hyperbarics & Wound Care clinics. The process involves resting in a special chamber while you breathe 100% oxygen. (The air you usually breathe is around 21% oxygen.) Inhaling pure oxygen helps your body increase the amount of oxygen in your blood. Your blood vessels take this excess oxygen to the tissues surrounding the wound, which promotes healing.

However, your oxygen levels must be closely monitored, as too much oxygen can lead to damage. Ochsner hyperbaric specialists have advanced training to minimize any risks to you. The most common side effects are ear and sinus pain or pressure, as the air inside the chamber is highly pressurized. But hyperbaric oxygen therapy is not otherwise painful and does not involve physical compression of your wound. No water is involved; the tank is solely filled with air.

In most cases, patients receive hyperbaric treatment every day, Monday through Friday. Our clinics are not open on weekends. Some patients with certain wounds may be able to come for four days in a row instead of five. Our treatments typically last 90 minutes to two hours. Patients usually need 20 to 30 sessions for successful treatment.

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is sometimes used to treat certain poisonings, gas embolisms and decompression sickness from deep diving. However, these are emergency medical conditions and are not treated in our Hyperbarics & Wound Care units. If you or a loved one experiences one of these conditions, call 911 immediately.

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is only approved to treat specific conditions. But Ochsner offers a wide array of additional treatments for chronic wounds and injuries, including:

• Biologic skin substitutes — advanced skin-like dressings and grafts cover wounds temporarily or longer to promote healing

• Lymphedema pumps — drains excess lymph fluid and reduces swelling

• Total contact casting — a specific type of hard cast used to protect diabetic foot ulcers while they heal

• Transcutaneous oxygen measurement, also called TCOM or TcPO — a noninvasive method of diagnosing oxygenation around the wound to ensure hyperbaric therapy is needed or working properly

• Ultrasonic debridement — a leading-edge method to remove dead tissue from your wound and damaging bacteria that may be affecting healing

• Wound vacuum-assisted closure

Your wound care team will also work with your other providers to treat any root causes contributing to your injuries. These may include blood sugar management and smoking cessation.