What Researchers Did
Turkish researchers reviewed CT scan records and treatment outcomes for patients who underwent HBOT at a military hospital between 2017 and 2022 to determine whether having lung cysts or air pockets (bullae) increased the risk of pneumothorax (collapsed lung) during treatment.
What They Found
Lung air-containing lesions, including bullae, were not associated with increased risk of pneumothorax during HBOT. The overall rate of pneumothorax was extremely low, 0.0059% per session and 0.15% per patient, meaning fewer than 2 in 1,000 patients experienced this complication. Routine CT chest screening before HBOT was not supported by the data.
What This Means for Canadian Patients
For Canadians who have been told they have lung cysts or other air-pocket abnormalities and are wondering whether HBOT is safe for them, this study is reassuring, these findings suggest the risk of a collapsed lung during HBOT is very low. A clinical evaluation is still appropriate, but blanket exclusion from HBOT based on incidental lung findings may not be warranted.
Canadian Relevance
No direct Canadian connection identified.
Study Limitations
This was a retrospective study at a single specialized military hospital in Turkey, and patients with the most severe lung disease may have been excluded from HBOT before the study period, potentially underestimating risk in the highest-risk patients.