Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy for Cesarean Section Wound in Diabetes Mellitus Gravida

We report the use of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) therapy to treat the complication of necrotizing fasciitis following Cesarean section in a postpartum gravida with diabetes mellitus. Our patient was a 25-year-old, gravida 1, para 1, woman with a history of type 1 diabetes mellitus since the age of 18. The patient experienced preterm labor at 31⁺¹ gestational weeks and was treated with magnesium sulfate for tocolytic therapy. The patient then went into labor at 39⁺⁶ gestational weeks. She received Cesarean section due to prolonged labor associated with non-reassuring fetal status of both smooth baseline and fetal tachycardia. An ultrasound scan of the lower abdomen on the 4^th postoperative day revealed fluid collection measuring 4 mm over the rectus fascia and edematous change of the surrounding soft tissues under the Cesarean section incision site. The patient eventually received HBO for a total of 7 days. Following HBO, the condition of the surgical wound improved dramatically. The results of this case showed that HBO has the potential to be a costeffective way to enhance the healing of necrotizing fasciitis in diabetes mellitus gravida.

Key Words:  Cesarean section , diabetes mellitus gravida , hyperbaric oxygen therapy , necrotizing fasciitis

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