What Researchers Did
Researchers conducted a systematic review of published data until 2010 on hyperbaric oxygen therapy for various urologic disorders.
What They Found
They identified 56 papers, including 1 randomized controlled trial, 7 reviews, and 48 case reports, involving a total of 695 patients. The number of hyperbaric oxygen therapy sessions ranged from 4 to 44, with a mean of 19.2 sessions per patient, and most studies reported good or very good patient management results.
What This Means for Canadian Patients
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy may be a useful treatment option for Canadian patients suffering from urological conditions linked to tissue hypoxia. Patients should discuss this therapy with their urologist to determine if it is appropriate for their specific condition.
Canadian Relevance
This study has no direct Canadian connection.
Study Limitations
The main limitation is the low level of evidence from most reviewed papers, as the majority were case series.