Hyperbaric & Wound Care Management
Millions of Americans suffer from problem wounds. These
can be frustrating, painful, and even life-threatening.
BayCare Clinic's wound care specialist, Dr. Thomas Betka, is the only fulltime
wound care and hyperbaric therapy physician in the area. He
sees patients in the Wound Care & Hyperbaric Medicine Clinic at
Aurora BayCare Medical Center.
Time to Heal
A chronic wound is a sore or wound that has failed to go through
the normal stages of healing in response to traditional
treatment. These wounds may pose severe health risk including
life-threatening infections, or even amputation of the affected
limb. Stop suffering. We focus on healing these wounds and
preventing further complications.
Wound Care
Besides the use of advanced and specialized dressings, other
wound care options include treating any infection that may be
present, offering nutritional support, and providing compression
therapy to treat swelling in the lower extremities. Patients
at risk for chronic wounds include those with diabetes mellitus,
peripheral vascular disease, a history of radiation therapy, and
those who smoke tobacco. Common chronic wounds include
diabetic foot sores, pressure sores, and ulcers.
Hyperbaric Therapy
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is one option to heal certain types of
chronic wounds or sores. Patients breathe 100% oxygen while
inside a pressurized environment. By increasing the amount of
dissolved oxygen in the blood, more oxygen is delivered to injured
tissues. This extra oxygen works with the patient's immune system
to stimulate and accelerate the healing process. Learn more
about hyperbaric therapy at the Aurora BayCare Medical Center
website.
Limb Salvage
Dr. Betka and the wound care team at Aurora BayCare Medical
Center work very closely with the vascular medicine and surgical
specialists, emphasizing a "limb salvage" approach to treating
limb-threatening wounds and ulcers. Our primary approach is
to avoid amputation if at all possible.
Providers