What Researchers Did
Researchers conducted a systematic review of 16 studies involving 58 patients to evaluate the role of adjuvant hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) in treating malignant otitis externa (MOE).
What They Found
The review found that 94.7% of patients had diabetes and Pseudomonas spp. was the infectious agent in 64.3% of cases. Adjuvant HBOT was associated with a 91.4% disease cure rate and an 8.6% all-cause mortality. Among patients with cranial nerve VII involvement (55.2% of cases), 72.0% experienced return of function and 93.8% survived.
What This Means for Canadian Patients
For Canadian patients with severe or difficult-to-treat malignant otitis externa, hyperbaric oxygen therapy could be a beneficial adjunctive treatment option. This therapy may improve cure rates and functional outcomes, especially for those with cranial nerve involvement, though more robust evidence is needed.
Canadian Relevance
This systematic review did not include any Canadian studies or patient populations, so its direct Canadian relevance is not established.
Study Limitations
The study's main limitation is the lack of strong scientific evidence, preventing definitive conclusions about HBOT's efficacy for malignant otitis externa.