What Researchers Did
Researchers reviewed data from 1609 patients who received 17604 hyperbaric oxygen treatments in one facility to identify factors linked to complications like ear or sinus pain.
What They Found
Pressure equalization problems, such as ear or sinus pain, occurred in 156 patients (9.7%) during hyperbaric oxygen therapy, which was delivered at a compression rate of 0.067 atmospheres absolute/min. Of these, 66 patients had to stop treatment due to these problems. Risk factors for pressure equalization problems included peripheral circulatory disorders and a short time between symptoms and the first HBOT session, while age over 61 years, female sex, and a short interval were risk factors for stopping treatment.
What This Means for Canadian Patients
Canadian patients, particularly those with peripheral circulatory disorders or older females, may be at higher risk for ear or sinus pain during hyperbaric oxygen therapy. Clinicians should take extra care during chamber compression for these patients to help prevent discomfort and ensure they can complete their prescribed treatments.
Canadian Relevance
This study is not Canadian and does not feature Canadian authors. However, it covers peripheral circulatory disorders with refractory ulcers, which aligns with diabetic foot ulcers, a Health Canada-recognized indication for hyperbaric oxygen therapy.
Study Limitations
This study's findings are based on data from a single institution, which may limit how broadly the results apply to other patient populations.