The current analysis of the effect of hyperbaric oxygen therapy on the frostbitten tissue: Experimental study in rabbits

Abstract

<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title><jats:p>Many experimental studies have been performed and the mechanism of hyperbaric oxygen therapy on the frostbitten tissue has not been elucidated. In this study, we evaluated the effect of hyperbaric oxygen therapy on the frostbitten ears of rabbits in an experimental animal model by examining the concentrations of thromboxane A2 (as thromboxane B2-Tx B2) and of prostaglandin I2 (PG I2) (as 6-keto-prostaglandin F1α-PG F1α) in tissues, and by counting the numbers of inflammatory cells (neutrophils and mast cells-MC) Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBO) at 2.5 ATA for 90 minutes twice daily for fourteen days to rabbits, the ears of which were subjected to frostbite, decreased presence of inflammatory cells (mast cells −75%; neutrophils −40%) and increased prostaglandin I2 (PG I2) (as 6-Keto-PGF1α) in the involved skin. Thromboxane A2 (TxA2) (as Tx B2) was unaffected. Our results revealed that an inflammatory process was the underlying cause of frostbite injury and that hyperbaric oxygen therapy was active in pathological situations involving an inflammatory process in frostbite.</jats:p>

A Novel Mouse Model for Frostbite Injury

“…There was not a blistering phase in our model, which has been seen in rabbit ear and leg models. 31,32 Absence of blistering is different than what is commonly seen in humans. We do not believe that absence of blistering or proven correlation to human frostbite classifications (eg, “degrees” of depth) negates the potential utility of our model when it is used as a screening method.…”

“…There was not a blistering phase in our model, which has been seen in rabbit ear and leg models. 31,32 Absence of blistering is different than what is commonly 5 7 9 11 13 15 17 19 21 23 25 Figure 6. Healing rates of the 5-minute continuous freeze (CF) method and the freeze-thaw-freeze (FTF) method, including trend lines.…”