Abstract
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy（OHP）was used to improve the viability of grafted skin, mucous membrane and skin pedicle flap, in reconstructive surgery for oromaxillo-facial defects. Subjects were twenty eight patients who received thirty two graft surgery during eight years from 1977 to 1985 and resulted in disturbed circulation. Types of flaps were; twelve Abbe flaps, one palatal mucoperiostal flap, one tongue flap, one dermis fat flap, one auricular composite graft, one nasolabial flap, one temporal forehead flap, one myocutaneous flap, two myocutaneous flaps of pectoralis major and three delto-pectoral flaps.
During OHP, ischemic flaps turned into fresh pink and OHP was continued twice or once a day under 2 and/or 3 ATA for one hour respectively. Early employment of OHP brought favorable result. Survival effect of flaps. was excellent in fifteen cases（53.5%）, fair in five cases（17.9%） and poor in remaining eight cases（28. 6%）. Major complication was otalgia, which occured in five cases. Through these facts, OHP was proved to be useful to improve disturbed blood circulation of grafted flaps.
