What Researchers Did
Researchers observed 285 patients and 357 staff exposed to hyperbaric conditions (1 to 3 atmospheres absolute) in a hyperbaric unit over three years.
What They Found
No cases of decompression sickness or aseptic bone necrosis were observed among patients or staff over the three-year period. Otitic barotrauma was noted in 4.7% of participants, while oxygen toxicity was not observed in any patient.
What This Means for Canadian Patients
This study suggests that hyperbaric oxygen therapy, when administered in a specialized medical environment, can be relatively safe for patients. Patients undergoing such treatments may experience a low incidence of side effects like otitic barotrauma, but serious complications like decompression sickness appear rare.
Canadian Relevance
This study has no direct Canadian connection.
Study Limitations
This observational study was conducted at a single hyperbaric unit over a specific three-year period, which may limit the generalizability of its findings.