What Researchers Did
Researchers conducted a retrospective review of 20 patients with chronic skin ulcers due to calcific uraemic arteriolopathy treated with hyperbaric oxygen therapy at an Australian unit between July 1997 and March 2006.
What They Found
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy was beneficial for 11 (55%) patients, with 6 (30%) achieving complete ulcer resolution upon treatment completion. Advancing age was identified as a predictor of a positive outcome (P = 0.02).
What This Means for Canadian Patients
Canadian patients suffering from chronic non-healing skin ulcers secondary to calcific uraemic arteriolopathy might consider hyperbaric oxygen therapy as a potential treatment option. While its exact role is still being defined, this therapy showed benefit for a significant portion of patients in this study.
Canadian Relevance
This study was conducted in Australia and has no direct Canadian connection.
Study Limitations
The study's retrospective design, small sample size (n=20), and the undefined precise role of hyperbaric oxygen therapy limit the generalizability of its findings.