What Researchers Did
Researchers looked back at the medical records of 43 patients treated for necrotizing fasciitis in the head and neck at a Danish hospital between 2002 and 2014 to see how hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) was used and its effects.
What They Found
Out of 43 patients, 30 received HBOT and 13 did not. There were no deaths in the HBOT group, compared to three deaths in the non-HBOT group. However, the HBOT group experienced higher rates of complications (63% vs. 25%) and lasting issues (77% vs. 40%) compared to the non-HBOT group.
What This Means for Canadian Patients
For Canadian patients with necrotizing fasciitis in the head and neck, this study suggests that hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) may not always be a mandatory part of treatment. The decision to use HBOT would likely depend on an individual assessment by their medical team.
Canadian Relevance
No direct Canadian connection identified.
Study Limitations
This study's retrospective design means it looked back at existing patient records, which can limit the ability to draw definitive cause-and-effect conclusions.