What Researchers Did
Researchers conducted a systematic review of 74 publications to evaluate the evidence for hyperbaric oxygen therapy in preventing and treating delayed radiation injuries.
What They Found
Out of 74 publications reviewed, 67 (approximately 90.5%) reported positive results for hyperbaric oxygen therapy in treating or preventing delayed radiation injuries. These findings suggest HBO2 is effective, especially when considering alternative treatments often involve radical surgery with potential complications.
What This Means for Canadian Patients
Canadian patients experiencing delayed radiation injuries could potentially benefit from hyperbaric oxygen therapy as a less invasive and effective treatment option. This approach may help avoid radical surgical interventions and their associated complications.
Canadian Relevance
This systematic review does not have a direct Canadian connection.
Study Limitations
While appraising 74 publications, the review did not explicitly detail the prevalence of higher-level evidence, such as randomized controlled trials, among the included studies.