Why measuring tissue oxygen matters

It is of utmost importance to consciously understand the fact that lack of oxygen in the tissue (the technical term is hypoxia) is one of the fundamental factors in wounds that heal slowly or not at all.

In order to provide adequate treatment, it is equally important, in addition to determining the existence of hypoxia, to determine its degree. Only when we have done this, can we say that we have identified the enemy, its strengths and weaknesses, and only then can we provide targeted treatment.

Now that we know what we need to do, the question arises of “how” to do it. The answer lies in a procedure called transcutaneous oximetry (tcpO2).

What is transcutaneous oximetry (tcpO2)

Transcutaneous oximetry is the only method that will give us the answer to how much oxygen is reaching the tissue of interest through the blood vessels, which is most often the extremities.

The procedure is non-invasive, painless and safe for the patient, lasts 30-60 minutes, sometimes longer, depending on the patient's condition and illness, and provides us with information of exceptional importance. It involves placing measuring electrodes in the area around the wound itself. In this way, we study and measure the oxygen level in the tissue of interest.

The information obtained helps us to assess the healing potential of the wound and qualification for hyperbaric oxygen therapy. Transcutaneous oximetry also helps determine the level of amputation, because the information obtained allows the surgeon to define the most sparing procedure.

Experience of the OXY Polyclinic

Today, in developed countries around the world, transcutaneous oximetry (tcpO2) is an indispensable test in the treatment of patients with chronic wounds and peripheral arterial disease.

Polyclinic for baromedicine OXY was the first in the Republic of Croatia in 2001, in daily practice, to start using transcutaneous oximetry diagnostics, having gathered almost 20 years of experience in the field of microcirculation.