Dose-Response Relationship of Therapeutic Oxygen: More Is Not Necessarily Better and May Be Inferior to No Supplemental Oxygen – Part 2: Implications and Consequences

Abstract

In the late 1980s to mid-1990s, the authors had consistently positive experience in the treatment of typical sports injuries and cosmetic surgical wounds with hyperbaric oxygen. The treatments in these cases generally consisted of oxygen at 2.0 atmospheres absolute (ATA) for 60 minutes. We were thus surprised to find that experts in the field of hyperbaric medicine did not believe this modality to be effective for such normal wounds. Consequently, we asked Eric Kindwall, M.D., a professional acquaintance and published proponent of this prevalent view, what the bases for his beliefs on this matter were. Starting with references provided by Dr. Kindwall, we began an extensive literature review to try to reconcile our practical successes with the prevailing hyperbaric medical dogma. The finding that the outcomes of oxygen therapy have a hormetic dose-response relationship explains the mistaken conclusions drawn concerning the treatment of uncompromised or normal wounds. Further, consideration of this and related facts provides insights which can assist in a more accurate understanding of published findings relating to hyperoxic therapy and in optimizing clinical treatments conducted with hyperoxic gases at both normobaric and hyperbaric pressures.