What Researchers Did
Researchers conducted a literature search to evaluate the clinical benefits of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) as an adjuvant treatment for necrotizing soft tissue infections (NSTI).
What They Found
The search identified 250 articles involving 2,556 NSTI patients, with 993 having received HBOT. Half of these articles were case reports or series, and only ten retrospective studies compared HBOT with non-HBO treatment, none verifying a benefit for necrotizing fasciitis patients.
What This Means for Canadian Patients
This review suggests that strong evidence supporting hyperbaric oxygen therapy for necrotizing soft tissue infections, particularly necrotizing fasciitis, is limited. Canadian patients should discuss all available treatment options and the strength of supporting evidence with their healthcare providers.
Canadian Relevance
This study has no direct Canadian connection as it focuses on the German healthcare context and literature.
Study Limitations
The review's findings are limited by the low quality of available evidence, with many articles being case reports and a lack of high-level comparative studies.