Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy In Calcium Chloride Extravasation Injuries: An Experimental Animal Study

Aim: Parenteral alimentation fluids containing calcium are widely used to treat sick neonates and children. Extravasation of calcium presents with local swelling, erythema, blistering and progresses to skin necrosis and skin loss. Several treatment modalities including hyperbaric oxygen therapy have been used for extravasation injuries. The role of hyperbaric oxygen therapy on extravasation injuries was investigated in this study by an experimental rat model based on facilitating effect of hyperbaric oxygen on wound healing.
Methods: After shaving the dorsal side of 16 female Wistar rats, 1 ml of calcium chloride were injected intradermally. The rats were divided into two groups as control and hyperbaric oxygen. The control group received no treatment while the hyperbaric oxygen group received hyperbaric oxygen therapy for 7 days after injection. At the end of seventh day skin biopsy including all necrotic tissue and surrounding healthy tissue were obtained and histopathologic examination was performed for control and hyperbaric oxygen groups.
Results: Hyperbaric oxygen group showed a statistically significant preservation of epidermis and dermis with minimal necrosing findings of skin injury.
Conclusion: Although further research is required to develop management guidelines, we concluded that in this experimental study, hyperbaric oxygen therapy prevents dermal injury and may decrease the morbidity associated with calcium chloride extravasation injury.