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(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080417/AQTH107)
The 52-foot-long, 66-ton chamber, the second-largest in the U.S. and thelargest in Wisconsin, will be able to treat up to 24 patients at one time.
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The chamber was installed today after being lifted by a huge crane andplaced into the basement of Aurora St. Luke's through a 1,100-square-foothole.
Hyperbaric chambers are primarily used to help treat difficult wounds,such as diabetic foot ulcers, but also are used for carbon monoxide poisoningand a host of other medical conditions. During hyperbaric treatment, patientsbreathe 100 percent oxygen in a pressurized chamber. The increased oxygen inthe blood stimulates small blood vessel and skin growth and helps fightinfection.
"This new chamber will allow us to continue to provide our patients withthe most advanced, state-of-the-art technologies available in wound care,"said Jeffrey A. Niezgoda, M.D., medical director of Aurora's Centers forComprehensive Wound Care and Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Program. "Aurora St.Luke's Medical Center has always been a pioneer in the field of hyperbaricmedicine. This new chamber will allow us to continue to attract patients fromthroughout the Midwest."
Hyperbaric treatment can literally save the lives and limbs of patientswith wounds that are difficult to treat because of chronic medical conditionssuch as diabetes and arterial vascular disease, Dr. Niezgoda said.
Jack Simanonok, M.D., another hyperbaric physician in the Aurora program,said there is a growing need for hyperbaric therapy.
"The role of hyperbaric medicine is becoming increasingly important as theincidence of diabetes increases, the population ages and the number of chronicwounds exceeds 6 million yearly," Dr. Simanonok said. "There are currently 24million diabetics in the U.S., approximately 8 percent of the population, andthese patients are at significant risk for complications related to diabeticfoot disease. Obesity and tobacco use also impact the body's ability to healand may contribute to the development of chronic wounds."
Monica Skarban, regional manager of wound care and hyperbaric medicine forAurora Health Care, said: "Our program provides patients with a full range ofwound care services, and we collaborate with experts throughout Aurora HealthCare to provide the best, most complete care for our patients. We have accessto multidisciplinary groups such as the Aurora Visiting Nurse Association,vascular services, physical therapists, the lymphodema clinic, nutritionalmedicine and pain management."
Mary O'Brien, chief administrative officer at Aurora St. Luke's MedicalCenter, said that great care was taken in the design of the new hyperbaricchamber to ensure a comfortable environment for patients. The chamberfeatures natural lighting, relaxing colors, climate control, entertainmentsystems and even a restroom.
"The patient is at the center of everything we do at Aurora, so indesigning the new chamber we sought input from patients," she explained."Having access to this kind of technology is a very significant developmentfor our patients."
The chamber was built in Queensland, Australia. It left Brisbane,Australia, on a ship on Feb. 22, arriving in Long Beach, Calif., on April 4.It then was loaded onto a trailer and trucked cross-country to Milwaukee.
The new chamber is expected to be fully operational in August. Until then,Aurora. St. Luke's patients will continue to use the twin chambers that wereinstalled in 1965 and nicknamed Bonnie and Clyde. The Bonnie chamber canaccommodate up to six patients, while the Clyde chamber can treat two pati
