Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy for Reconstructive Urology Wounds: A Case Series

Abstract

Introduction: Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) has been applied to urological wound healing because it reduces inflammation, facilitates angiogenesis through endothelial prolif-eration, stimulates fibroblast, lymphocyte, and macrophage activity, and exerts bactericidal effects. Thus, we present a case series of reconstructive urology wounds treated adjunctively with HBOT. Case Report: Here, we present the cases of eight patients with urology wounds who underwent different forms of surgical reconstruction. Three patients received penile shaft silicone fluid injection with repeated infection, successful excision of a siliconoma mass, and defect closure with a full-thickness skin graft. One patient had hypospadias and multiple post-closure fistulae. Two patients had bilateral keystone flaps (post total penectomy, orch-idectomy, perineotomy, and penile tumors) closed with a split-thickness skin graft (STSG). Two patients had Fournier’s gangrene in their genital area, for which the wound was debrided and then closed with a STSG. All patients received HBOT after surgery with satisfying results. Conclusion: HBOT promotes wound healing and improves graft integration in patients undergoing urological reconstructive surgery.