What Researchers Did
Researchers retrospectively reviewed nine consecutive patients with severe laryngeal necrosis treated with hyperbaric oxygen therapy at a single unit between 1980 and 1985.
What They Found
All nine patients, eight with Chandler grade IV and one with grade III necrosis, maintained their voice, with seven having good quality and two experiencing hoarseness. All patients with tracheostomies were successfully decannulated, and all fistulae were closed, with no adverse reactions to hyperbaric oxygen therapy reported.
What This Means for Canadian Patients
Canadian patients experiencing severe laryngeal necrosis, often a complication of radiation, might consider hyperbaric oxygen therapy as a potential treatment to preserve their voice and larynx. This approach could help avoid laryngectomy and resolve associated issues like tracheostomies and fistulae, improving quality of life.
Canadian Relevance
This study has no direct Canadian connection as it was conducted in the United States.
Study Limitations
Limitations include the retrospective design, small sample size of nine patients, and data from a single hyperbaric medicine unit.