What Researchers Did
Researchers analyzed 98 patients with necrotizing soft-tissue infections (flesh-eating disease) treated with surgery, antibiotics, and HBOT to see whether starting HBOT sooner led to better outcomes.
What They Found
Patients who died had significantly longer delays between diagnosis and first HBOT session compared to survivors (p=0.031). Patients who lost limbs also had longer waits before starting HBOT than those who kept their limbs (p=0.031). Earlier HBOT was linked to fewer surgical debridements, shorter hospital and ICU stays, and higher complete wound healing rates.
Canadian Relevance
No direct Canadian connection identified. Necrotizing soft-tissue infection is not a listed OHIP-covered HBOT indication, though it is recognised by Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society guidelines.
Study Limitations
This was a retrospective study at a single institution without randomization, so sicker patients may have been delayed for reasons unrelated to HBOT itself.