What Researchers Did
Researchers reported a case study of a 69-year-old woman who developed complications during hyperbaric oxygen therapy.
What They Found
They found that a 69-year-old woman undergoing hyperbaric oxygen therapy for a nonhealing foot ulcer developed left-sided hemiplegia and confusion during decompression, eventually dying 17 hours after symptom onset. Autopsy revealed diffuse interstitial pulmonary fibrosis, severe paracicatricial emphysema, and extensive multifocal ischaemic injury of the cerebral cortex, supporting a diagnosis of air embolism.
Canadian Relevance
This study has no direct Canadian connection as it was conducted outside of Canada.
Study Limitations
A significant limitation of this study is that it is a single case report, which limits the generalizability of its findings to a broader patient population.