Center for Wound Management
Goleta Valley Cottage Hospital
351 S. Patterson Ave.
Santa Barbara CA 93111
(805) 696-7920
For most people, wound healing is a natural, uneventful process. But for others, it can become a complex medical problem requiring specialized treatment and care. Such patients can now turn to the Center for Wound Management at Goleta Valley Cottage Hospital. Opened in April 2006, the comprehensive center is the only one of its kind between the Bay Area and Camarillo.
Expert staff to address individual needs
At the Center for Wound Management at Goleta Valley Cottage Hospital, our expert teams of specially trained physicians and support staff are available to address problem wounds. They understand that there are many factors that may delay or prevent wounds from healing. With this in mind, the wound care team performs a complete physical exam and compiles the patient's medical history, which allows them to develop an individualized treatment plan specific to each patient's needs.
The center is specifically designed to combine wound care with ongoing health care as most problem wounds are often associated with other underlying medical conditions such as diabetes or heart disease. At the request of referring physicians, patients enter an appropriate outpatient program for evaluation and treatment. The team, made up of specialists from many different fields, reviews all the patient’s needs. They develop individualized treatment plans, coordinate care, and provide patients and caregivers with education on how to care for their wounds at home, as well as lifestyle adjustments that will speed the healing process.
Sometimes wounds will not respond to general wound care treatments alone. For some patients, Hyperbaric Oxygen (HBO) therapy is an effective technoogy that supplements other treatments used by physicians. The Wound Center is equipped with two hyperbaric chambers which provide patients with 100 percent pure oxygen within a pressurized setting. Normal air is made up of 21 percent oxygen. Breathing pure oxygen increases the level of oxygen in the blood stream promoting wound healing by stimulating new vascular growth and aiding in the preservation of damaged tissue.
HBO therapy involves daily visits to the Wound Center for a period of approximately three to four weeks, then follow-up wound care to monitor healing progress. During HBO, a patient is placed in a pressurized chamber where he or she breathes 100 percent oxygen. This increases oxygen within the wound and thus aids i nthe growth of new tissue and healing.
Each time a patient gets hyperbaric oxygen, he or she is said to be going on a “dive.” The pressurized environment in the chamber is equivalent to the pressure at depths of as much as 66 feet below sea level. Patients receiving HBO treatments lie comfortably inside the chamber. Patients may watch television, listen to music, or nap. Patients inside the chamber may notice discomfort inside their ears as a pressure difference develops between their middle ear and the chamber atmosphere. Patients are instructed in techniques for relieving this pressure.
Depending on the treatment required, some patients may need only one or two dives. More serious situations – such as radiation tissue damage-- might require 30 to 40 sessions. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is generally prescribed in conjunction with other treatment such as surgery and medication.
Many conditions may benefit from wound care
- diabetic wounds of the lower extremities
- wounds that have not healed after several weeks
- post-radiation tissue injury
- diabetes-related foot and ankle ulcers
- crush injuries
- venous stasis or arterial insufficienty ulcers
- wounds caused by poor circulation or trauma
- compromised grafts and flaps
- gangrene
- pressure ulcers
- necrotizing soft tissue infections
- carbon monoxide poisoning
Treatment plans may include some or a combination of these elements:
- laboratory studies
- X-rays
- vascular studies
- surgical debridement to remove infected tissue and bone
- antibiotic therapy
- application of specialty dressings or ointments
- the use of crutches, wheelchairs, or other off-loading techniques
- nutritional supplements or counseling
- physical therapy
- hyperbaric oxygen therapy
The three most common chronic non-healing wounds:
Pressure ulcers. A pressure ulcer is an area of tissue that is damaged when soft tissue is pressed between a bony area and another surface for an extended period of time. Pressure ulcers happen most commonly over areas such as the hip, tailbone, buttock, or heel in people with limited mobility due to illness or injury. The amount of pressure placed on the area, how long it is pressed, and the overall health of the patient all have an effect on the amount of skin damage. Once the injury has occured, it can take weeks or months to heal.
Diabetic foot ulcers. Diabetes affects many body systems, including the nerves, blood vessels, muscles, and immune system. These factors can make a diabetic person more likely to get a foot infection or wound. Once a wound starts, it can be difficult to heal.
Venous leg wounds. Venous ulcers are caused by vein damage. Blood collects in the legs, causing swelling and weeping wounds. The skin can become discolored and looked stained. Arterial disease can also cause wounds on the lower parts of the legs, and are hard to heal because the flow of blood to the wound is reduced.
