Certified Hyperbaric Technologist Test Hyperbaric Wound Healing 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: How does hyperbaric oxygen therapy promote wound healing?
- By increasing tissue oxygen levels to stimulate angiogenesis, fibroblast proliferation, and white blood cell function (Correct answer)
- By physically compressing the wound closed
- By killing all bacteria through oxygen toxicity
- By reducing blood flow to the wound area
Correct answer: By increasing tissue oxygen levels to stimulate angiogenesis, fibroblast proliferation, and white blood cell function
HBO therapy dramatically increases dissolved oxygen in plasma, promoting new blood vessel formation (angiogenesis), enhancing fibroblast collagen production, improving neutrophil bacterial killing, and reducing edema through vasoconstriction.
Question 2: What is the recommended HBO protocol for diabetic foot ulcers?
- 2.0-2.4 ATA for 90 minutes, 5 days per week for 20-40 treatments (Correct answer)
- 1.0 ATA for 30 minutes daily
- 3.0 ATA for 120 minutes twice weekly
- 2.0 ATA for 15 minutes once weekly
Correct answer: 2.0-2.4 ATA for 90 minutes, 5 days per week for 20-40 treatments
Diabetic foot ulcers typically require treatment at 2.0-2.4 ATA for 90 minutes per session, 5 days per week, with a treatment course of 20-40 sessions depending on wound response.
Question 3: What role does transcutaneous oxygen measurement (TcPO2) play in HBO therapy?
- It assesses tissue oxygenation to predict wound healing potential and patient selection for HBO (Correct answer)
- It measures atmospheric oxygen levels in the chamber
- It calibrates the oxygen delivery system
- It monitors the patient's blood pressure during treatment
Correct answer: It assesses tissue oxygenation to predict wound healing potential and patient selection for HBO
TcPO2 measurements assess the oxygen level at the wound site, helping determine if the tissue is hypoxic and whether HBO therapy can adequately increase oxygen delivery to promote healing, guiding patient selection.
Question 4: What is the mechanism by which HBO therapy helps treat chronic refractory osteomyelitis?
- By increasing oxygen delivery to infected bone, enhancing antibiotic effectiveness and white blood cell bactericidal activity (Correct answer)
- By directly killing bone cells infected with bacteria
- By reducing bone density to allow drainage
- By heating the bone to sterilize the infection
Correct answer: By increasing oxygen delivery to infected bone, enhancing antibiotic effectiveness and white blood cell bactericidal activity
HBO increases oxygen tension in infected bone tissue, which enhances neutrophil killing activity (which requires oxygen), potentiates certain antibiotics, stimulates osteoclast and osteoblast activity, and promotes new bone formation.
Question 5: When should HBO therapy be discontinued for a non-healing wound?
- If no measurable wound improvement is observed after 15-20 treatments (Correct answer)
- After exactly 5 treatments regardless of progress
- Only when the patient requests to stop
- Never — treatment should continue indefinitely
Correct answer: If no measurable wound improvement is observed after 15-20 treatments
If a wound shows no measurable improvement (reduction in size, improved granulation tissue, decreased drainage) after 15-20 treatments, the case should be reviewed, as continuing HBO without demonstrated benefit is not warranted.
Question 6: What is delayed radiation injury and how does HBO therapy treat it?
- Progressive tissue damage from prior radiation therapy, treated by HBO-stimulated angiogenesis in damaged tissue (Correct answer)
- Immediate skin burns from radiation treatment
- Radiation exposure from the hyperbaric chamber
- A side effect of HBO therapy itself
Correct answer: Progressive tissue damage from prior radiation therapy, treated by HBO-stimulated angiogenesis in damaged tissue
Delayed radiation injury (osteoradionecrosis, soft tissue radionecrosis) results from progressive vascular damage in previously irradiated tissue. HBO stimulates new blood vessel growth in the damaged tissue, restoring blood supply and healing capacity.
Certified Hyperbaric Technologist Test Hyperbaric Wound Healing 1
How does hyperbaric oxygen therapy promote wound healing?