What Researchers Did
Researchers analyzed 1,583 cases of necrotizing soft tissue infections from 14 U.S. medical centers with on-site hyperbaric oxygen therapy facilities between 2008 and 2010 to assess the therapy's impact.
What They Found
Of the 1,583 cases, 117 (7%) received hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT). While HBOT showed no significant difference in hospital stay, cost, complications, or mortality for less severe cases, it was associated with increased survival in the most severely ill patients with necrotizing soft tissue infections.
What This Means for Canadian Patients
Canadian patients with severe necrotizing soft tissue infections might benefit from hyperbaric oxygen therapy, potentially improving their chances of survival. Access to this specialized treatment could be a critical factor in managing these life-threatening conditions.
Canadian Relevance
This study was conducted in U.S. medical centers and has no direct Canadian connection.
Study Limitations
Despite efforts to reduce selection bias by focusing on HBOT-capable centers, the observational nature of the study and the low HBOT utilization rate (7%) suggest potential for residual bias.