What Researchers Did
Researchers conducted a systematic review to compare the treatment of Fournier's gangrene with or without hyperbaric oxygenation as an adjunct therapy.
What They Found
Analyzing 13 studies involving 376 patients, researchers found a mortality rate of 16.6% in the hyperbaric oxygenation (HBO) group compared to 25.9% in the non-HBO group. Five retrospective case-control studies, encompassing 319 patients, contributed significantly to these findings.
What This Means for Canadian Patients
Canadian patients with Fournier's gangrene might benefit from hyperbaric oxygenation as an adjunctive treatment, potentially improving survival rates. However, treatment decisions should be made in consultation with healthcare providers, considering individual patient circumstances and available resources.
Canadian Relevance
This systematic review did not include any studies specifically conducted in Canada or with a Canadian patient population.
Study Limitations
The systematic review noted a moderate to high risk of bias across the included studies, which could impact the certainty of the findings.