What Researchers Did
Researchers studied 245 children with severe peritonitis caused by appendicitis, giving hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) to 127 of them after surgery.
What They Found
They found that adding HBOT to standard treatment significantly improved outcomes for children with severe peritonitis. Children receiving HBOT recovered faster from their serious postoperative condition, experienced fewer complications, and had a lower mortality rate. These patients also spent less time in intensive care and had shorter hospital stays.
What This Means for Canadian Patients
For Canadian children suffering from severe peritonitis after appendicitis, this study suggests that HBOT could potentially help improve recovery and reduce complications. If further research confirms these benefits, HBOT might offer an additional treatment option to help children recover more quickly and spend less time in the hospital.
Canadian Relevance
No direct Canadian connection identified.
Study Limitations
This study, published in 1979, lacks specific details on the hyperbaric oxygen therapy protocol used and does not provide numerical data for the reported outcomes.