Methods of Measuring Oxygen in Wounds

Accurate measurement of tissue oxygen tension has led to an understanding of the crucial role of oxygen in wound healing and the degree to which oxygen supply in wounded tissue is often the limiting factor in healing. This, in turn, has led to studies demonstrating that activation of the sympathetic nervous system by such common perioperative stressors as hypothermia, pain, and hypovolemia decreases wound oxygen tension and impairs wound healing. In the past 6 to 7 yr, these observations have led to several large, randomized, controlled trials to increase wound oxygen tension management of surgical patients (e.g., maintenance of normothermia and administration of high oxygen concentrations to the patient) that yielded dramatic improvements in wound healing and resistance to infection. Tissue oxygen measurements are relatively simple to make, particularly with current highly stable probes, and their use will undoubtedly lead to further advances in wound care.