What Researchers Did
Researchers at one hospital compared 20 adults with brain abscesses who had standard treatment (surgery and antibiotics) with 20 who had the same treatment plus hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT).
What They Found
In this cohort study of 40 adults with surgically treated brain abscesses, those who also received HBOT had fewer reoperations and a higher rate of good outcomes than those who did not, though the groups were not randomly assigned. All patients had their abscess and infection resolve. Reoperations after HBOT started occurred in 2 of 20 patients (10 percent), compared with 9 of 20 (45 percent) in the non-HBOT group (p equal to 0.03). Recurrences happened in 2 of 14 patients (14 percent) who received HBOT after their first surgery, compared with 15 of 26 (58 percent) who did not (p less than 0.01). A good outcome (Glasgow Outcome Score of 5) was seen in 16 patients (80 percent) with HBOT and 9 (45 percent) without (p equal to 0.04). The authors described HBOT as well tolerated and safe.
Canadian Relevance
No direct Canadian connection identified.
Study Limitations
This was a small, non-randomised comparison of 40 patients from one institution, so differences between the groups, other than HBOT, may explain some of the results.