Grey’s anatomy episode: oxygen prevents amputation?
In the episode My Favorite Mistake, Christina decides to amputate the gentleman’s foot — but she didn’t consider another alternative (hyperbaric oxygen treatment). Please be careful of people who say hyperbaric oxygen is a cure-all — because it’s not (more rigorous research is needed). But I wanted to share this information as a possible consideration.
References:
1) “[hyperbaric oxygen] might have a role in reducing the risk of major amputation in patients with diabetic foot ulcers.”
Non-surgical and drug treatments. From the British Medical Journal 2006;332;900-903
2) Hyperbaric Oxygenation Accelerates the
Healing Rate of Nonischemic Chronic
Diabetic Foot Ulcers. Diabetes Care 26:2378–2382, 2003
General idea behind these health videos:
I’m a first year medical student here at the U.S.. Every day, I’m learning exciting and critical topics on medicine and health. But too often, the things I’m learning about never reach the public.
I wanted to try an experiment — sharing health information on youtube, with the sole purpose of trying to get more important health information to you all. Unlike some of the other health videos out there, mine are not about promoting a book, a diet, a pill, an agenda. I hope to answer your questions either through e-mail or through the video updates — please, please, (please!) e-mail me any questions and I will try my best to answer them by asking my professors and by citing credibles sources (JAMA, New England Journal of Medicine, etc…)
e-mail:
unitedstatesmedicalstudent@gma il.com
I hope this experiment works — and if it fails, I hope someone sees these videos, says, “hmmm, these are bad videos, but I love the idea,” and decides to go for it.
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P.S. I wanted to point out something important: I’m just a medical student, so my posts are hopefully conversation starters, but only conversation starters — not medical advice. If my posts intrigue you, please read more about the topic and discuss about it with your doctor. I’d be happy to send you the information in the journal articles I talk about. Also, the opinions expressed in this post are not necessarily those of Harvard Medical School, its affiliated institutions, or Harvard University. Best wishes!
Duration : 0:3:28
[youtube 9Xh7U3X8WsY]
You gotta research …
You gotta research about ed mccabe’s work. He totally done his research very well google him and see what you think, he talks about oxygen medical therapy.
thanks usmedstudent …
thanks usmedstudent for posting this very important video . my dad had his big toe on his left foot amputated this year because of gangrene . he started hyperbaric april 3 , 2008 and goes 5 times a week to the chamber. youre video has been out a year and has been viewed only 4,000 times which shows not many know about this helping treatment . keep up the good work .
Good for you! I …
Good for you! I like the way you look for alternatives for people who have been told the need to get cut or have serious life changing procedures done to them. Keep it up!
I think it’s …
I think it’s awesome that you and your friends as Pre-med students watch Grey’s Anatomy to point out the alternatives to treatment. Great stuff.
Keep in mind that …
Keep in mind that the producers of Grey’s anatomy’s main aim is to appeal to the majority of the public. To do this they have to cram as much drama into one episode as they can… so if given the choice between Hyperbaric oxygen treatment and amputation for a television drama… the alternative is obvious.
~ That’s probably why Meredith’s voice-over at the end does not summarize the medical side of things but the social.
Hyperbaric oxygen …
Hyperbaric oxygen is one of numerous treatment modalities available to help speed up the healing process. Of course proper wound care also is important. This includes periodic wound debridement, and offweighting methods to take pressure off wound, etc…
Your comments are …
Your comments are correct and it is true. Hyperbaric medicine is a medically accepted, mode of treatment. It is accepted by most insurance compainies for diagnoses that are approved by the UHMS. I am a certified hyperbaric nurse who has seen many feet and legs saved. Thanks!
HBOT works for …
HBOT works for autism, diabetes, lyme disease, etc….oxygen under pressure is THE healer…the healer that the FDA and AMA does not want you to know about!!!!
As a premed, I find …
As a premed, I find your videos really interesting! thanks!
drinkin Ionized …
drinkin Ionized alkaline water has the same effect, its cheaper easyer and has more benafits over all global healing effect. but one of the main reasons it works is because you blood is able to carry more oxygen
My grandmother had …
My grandmother had this treatment. It really did help her heal some of her wounds and prevent amputation.
Well said!
Well said!
There are so many …
There are so many debates on the hyperbaric oxygen chamber but as far as your case goes… what would have been more dramatic? Amputation or a THEORETICALLY curable alternate?
Postscript: I found this post to be quite stimulating. Med Students kick ass. Rock On.