OXYGEN AND HEALING

Measurements of oxygen tension of wound fluid and of oxygen gradients across the wound edge lead to the tentative conclusion that most wounds heal in an environment which is poor in oxygen. The rate of wound healing, therefore, may be limited by the oxygen supply. This implies that under some conditions, wound healing may be improved by the addition of oxygen. There is some support in the literature for this concept. Oxygen transport to tissue is easily decreased by a variety of physiologic conditions. At the present state of our knowledge, it appears particularly important for the surgeon to provide adequate wound oxygenation by maintaining blood volume and insuring that all factors influencing tissue perfusion are optimally supported. © 1969.