What Researchers Did
Researchers conducted a retrospective cohort study comparing 14 patients who received adjuvant intravenous lidocaine for neurological decompression illness with 21 patients who did not, all treated with hyperbaric oxygen therapy.
What They Found
The study found no significant positive or negative effect of lidocaine on patient outcome, with a relative risk for objective neurological signs at follow-up in the lidocaine group of 1.8 (95% CI 0.2-16). Both groups had comparable injury severity scores (lidocaine 2.7 +/- 1.7, control 2.0 +/- 1.6) and similar numbers of hyperbaric oxygen sessions (lidocaine 2.7 +/- 2.3, control 2.0 +/- 1.0).
What This Means for Canadian Patients
This study suggests that adding lidocaine to standard hyperbaric oxygen therapy may not improve outcomes for neurological decompression illness. Canadian patients with this condition should continue to receive established hyperbaric oxygen treatment protocols.
Canadian Relevance
This study has no direct Canadian connection.
Study Limitations
The study was under-powered to draw definitive conclusions regarding the effect of lidocaine in neurological decompression illness.