What Researchers Did
Researchers retrospectively evaluated the efficacy and safety of hyperbaric oxygen therapy as an adjuvant treatment for surgical site infections in 33 patients undergoing male-to-female gender affirmation surgery between 2009 and 2019.
What They Found
Out of 156 patients who underwent male-to-female gender affirmation surgery, 33 with complicated wound infections were enrolled, with 15 receiving hyperbaric oxygen therapy and 18 not. The study found no statistically significant difference in complete wound healing rate, duration of antibiotic therapy, perineal drain time, bladder catheter time, or hospital stay between the two groups.
What This Means for Canadian Patients
For Canadian patients undergoing male-to-female gender affirmation surgery who develop surgical site infections, this study suggests that hyperbaric oxygen therapy may not offer additional benefits over standard wound management. Clinicians should consider the limited evidence of efficacy when deciding on adjuvant treatments for these specific wound complications.
Canadian Relevance
This study has no direct Canadian connection as it was conducted outside of Canada.
Study Limitations
Limitations include its retrospective, observational design, the small sample size of 33 patients, and the non-randomized assignment to treatment groups.