The comprehensive Wound Care Center of Cheng Kung University Hospital integrates the functions of diagnosis, treatment, health education and prevention. In addition to the vascular evaluation center which measures ankle-brachial index test (ABI) , the multi-functional outpatient clinic, our center also has one single-place and one multiplace hyperbaric oxygen chamber. There is a crew of plastic surgeons and hyperbaric oxygen specialists in the center, who can provide professional wound management, health education and consultation, and also hyperbaric oxygen treatment. The center aims to provide comprehensive and patient-centered high-quality care.
In 2004, the Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Department of Cheng Kung Hospital established the Hyperbaric Oxygen Treatment Center. At that time, there were 2 mono-place hyperbaric oxygen chambers, which helped many patients with refractory osteomyelitis, severely infected wounds and chronic poor-healing wounds. However, the facility’s capacity is limited， and patients usually had to wait for 2 to 3 weeks for their treatments.
In order to improve the quality of services, strive for the effectiveness of treatment, and provide patients with a comfortable treatment environment, a 6-seat hyperbaric oxygen multi-person chamber was installed this year. Direc tor Pan Xin Cheng indicated that the multiplace hyperbaric oxygen chamber adopts a unique Ω-shaped design to increase the internal space. The ergonomically-designed door makes it convenient for patients to enter and exit. The interior is spacious and bright, and there are also comfortable ergonomic sofa chairs. The air-conditioning system within the chamber is adjustable. The independent breathing systems and disposable masks can reduce the risk of cross-infection when the epidemic is raging.
Hyperbaric oxygen treatment is a safe and effective adjuvant therapy. The main indications are decompression sickness, arterial gas embolism, carbon monoxide or cyanide poisoning, severely infected wounds or chronic poor-healing wounds, and crushed limbs, refractory osteomyelitis, and tissue damage caused by radiation therapy, such as proctitis, cystitis, osteonecrosis, burns, brain pus, and sudden hearing impairment. In addition, hyperbaric oxygen also has an auxiliary effect on many diseases. Different treatment protocols can be tailor-made according to the patient’s condition.
The crew in the Hyperbaric Oxygen and Wound Integrated Treatment Center of Cheng Kung University Hospital are certified plastic surgeons and hyperbaric oxygen specialists. They can recommend and utilize hyperbaric oxygen therapy at the most appropriate stage according to the patient’s condition, in order to improve the efficiency of wound healing and shorten the time of recovery.
The comprehensive Wound Care Center displayed a miniature model of a single-place hyperbaric oxygen chamber at the booth during the expo, so that the visitors could have a precious opportunity to understand how hyperbaric oxygen treatment works.
Dr. Ting Mao Chou, an alumni of the Department of Medicine, Cheng Kung University, base on his own experience in treating patients with hyperbaric oxygen to treat patients, worked hand-in-hand with Mr. Tai-long Chou, Chairman of Kuang Tai Metal Industry, who is also an alumni of Cheng Kung University, developed a gentle-type hyper baric oxygen chamber.
