What Researchers Did
Researchers conducted a targeted narrative review of 38 articles published between January 2020 and November 2025 to evaluate the mechanistic basis and clinical applications of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) in modern surgical practice.
What They Found
The review of 38 articles revealed that hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) mechanistically improves tissue quality and microvascular integrity by modulating redox signaling and inflammatory pathways. Clinically, adjunctive HBOT showed trends toward higher healing rates, improved limb preservation, and better graft take in diabetic and vascular indications, while also supporting threatened flaps and grafts in reconstructive surgery and mitigating ischemia-reperfusion injury in trauma.
What This Means for Canadian Patients
Canadian patients undergoing surgery for conditions like diabetic foot ulcers, chronic limb-threatening ischemia, or those requiring reconstructive surgery may benefit from adjunctive hyperbaric oxygen therapy. This therapy could potentially lead to faster healing, better limb preservation, and fewer complications, improving overall recovery and quality of life.
Canadian Relevance
This study has no direct Canadian connection as it was not conducted in Canada, nor does it specifically address Canadian healthcare contexts or patient populations.
Study Limitations
As a narrative review, this study may be subject to selection bias and lacks the systematic rigor of a meta-analysis or systematic review.