What Researchers Did
This study retrospectively analyzed the clinical use and adverse effects of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) in small animal patients at a university teaching hospital.
What They Found
Researchers analyzed 2,792 HBOT sessions in 542 dogs, 24 cats, and 10 other small animals. Common indications included neurologic injuries (50.4%) and tissue healing (31.4%). The most common major adverse event was central nervous system (CNS) oxygen toxicity, occurring in 0.7% of treatment sessions, primarily in dogs, with increasing age and female sex identified as risk factors.
Canadian Relevance
No direct Canadian connection identified, as this study was not conducted in Canada nor by Canadian authors, and it focuses on veterinary applications.
Study Limitations
This was a retrospective analysis from a single institution, and its findings may not be generalizable to all veterinary practices or directly transferable to human patients.