Traverse City Record-Eagle

Region

September 30, 2010

In Well-Being: Oxygen therapy for wounds

TRAVERSE CITY-- Two tube-like clear chambers held two patients dressed in hospital-blue scrubs.

Each patient had his or her own chamber with his or her television tuned to a chosen program. The History Channel flickered above one while another patient watched the Hallmark Channel. Many days of the week, this is where you'll find Michael Dornoff, of Acme. Dornoff is among the first patients to undergo hyperbaric oxygen therapy at the Munson Medical Center Advanced Wound Center.

Patients spend hours a week inside the chambers. Some sleep; others watch TV while 100 percent oxygen is pumped in to treat their chronic wounds. The therapy can be effective for those with diabetes-related wounds and various other slow-healing injuries and conditions.

For a go-getter like Dornoff, being confined inside the chamber for long periods is a challenge, but he's seen improvement since beginning the treatment this summer.

For more on the wound center, see today's Well-Being section

Text Only

Latest News
Life
Sports
Business

Record-Eagle+
Unlimited access to Record-Eagle.com
Subscribe Sign In