What Researchers Did
Researchers looked back at patient records to see how hyperbaric oxygen therapy helped treat mediastinitis, a serious infection, after heart bypass surgery.
What They Found
The study identified 18 patients with mediastinitis, and 11 of these cases involved multiple types of bacteria. Only 1 patient died in the hospital 7 months after HBOT, due to sepsis unrelated to the treatment. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy was well-tolerated by all patients.
Canadian Relevance
No direct Canadian connection identified.
Study Limitations
As a retrospective study with a small sample size of 18 patients, this research cannot definitively prove cause and effect or be generalized to all patients.