Consensus round table meeting: Portable topical oxygen therapy for healing complex wounds
Chronic and complex wounds continue to challenge clinicians and health systems worldwide. Despite adherence to standard of care, many wounds fail to progress as expected, highlighting the need for advanced, evidence-based adjunct therapies.
An expert round table consensus, led by clinical leaders in wound care, recognized the growing role of topical oxygen therapy (TOT) and established practical guidance for its use — particularly the integration of NATROX® O₂ Continuous Topical Oxygen Therapy.
EXPERT WORKING GROUP
Chair: Breda Cullen, PhD RedC Consultant, UK
Abdulmohsen Ali Al Eisa, Consultant Surgeon, King Fahad Hospital, Hofuf, Saudi Arabia
Hanna Kaufman, Orthopaedic Surgeon, Israel
Joanne McCardle, Consultant Podiatrist, Salford Royal Foundation Trust, UK
Harikrishna K. Ragavan Nair, Consultant Wound Care Physician, Malaysia
Elia Ricci, Consultant Surgeon, Turin, Italy
Tang Tjun Yip, Consultant Vascular and Endovascular Surgeon, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore
REVIEW PANEL
Keith Harding, Medical Director, Welsh Wound Innovation Centre, Cardiff, UK; Dean of Clinical Innovation, Cardiff University, UK
Borripatara Wongprachum, Consultant Surgeon, Bangkok, Thailand
Ibby Younis, Consultant Plastic Surgeon and President, Plastic Surgery Section, Royal Society of Medicine, UK
Why NATROX® O₂?
NATROX® O₂ is a simple, well-tolerated therapy that delivers continuous topical oxygen directly to the wound bed. It can be easily managed in home and community settings, providing both clinical and patient benefits while offering potential economic savings (Wounds International, 2018).
The expert panel emphasized that healing outcomes can be improved when advanced therapies like NATROX® O₂ are introduced earlier in the treatment pathway — not only for non-healing wounds, but also for patients at risk of delayed healing due to comorbidities or hypoxia.
A Proactive, Patient-Centered Approach
The panel developed a recommended treatment pathway to guide clinicians in identifying when to consider NATROX® O₂.
- After 4 weeks of standard care, if wound area reduction is <40–50%, or
- If the wound is at risk of becoming chronic or complex,
→ Consider NATROX® O₂.
Treatment should then be reviewed every 4 weeks, with clear goals established at initiation—such as wound closure, area reduction, or improved patient quality of life.
Managing Challenging Wounds
NATROX® O₂ can be used as an adjunct to standard of care, supporting healing in wounds that are stalled, chronic, or complex. However, the experts agreed that its greatest impact may come from earlier, proactive use, helping clinicians:
- Prevent complications before wounds become chronic
- Improve patient outcomes and quality of life
- Optimize clinical resources and reduce treatment costs
As the consensus highlights, NATROX® O₂ represents a significant advancement in topical oxygen therapy — enabling practical, timely, and effective oxygen delivery that enhances healing in even the most challenging wounds.