This Consensus Conference, organized on 4–5 December 1998 in London by the European Committee for Hyperbaric Medicine (ECHM), aimed to create an objective and complete review of current literature in the field of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBO). A diverse group of experts throughout the world was invited.
At the Consensus Conference, experts presented their review of the literature relating to HBO before a jury and the audience. Thereafter, the jury gathered to discuss the presentations and present its findings in a consensus statement to include recommendations for clinical practice based on the evidence that was presented. These recommendations will be published in a later issue of The Foot.
The questions to be answered were:
1. What is the rationale for hyperbaric oxygen in the treatment of foot lesions in diabetic patients?
2. Which diabetic patients may benefit from hyperbaric oxygen for the treatment of foot lesions?
3. What is the place of hyperbaric oxygen in the multidisciplinary team approach to these lesions?
4. How can the efficacy of hyperbaric oxygen for these lesions be evaluated?
5. Is hyperbaric oxygen cost effective in the treatment of these lesions?
