What Researchers Did
Researchers conducted a systematic review of 65 clinical and experimental studies to evaluate the effects of various oxygen therapies on wound healing.
What They Found
Of 65 identified articles, 77% of local oxygen therapy studies and 63% of hyperbaric oxygen therapy studies reported one or more significant positive outcomes for wound healing. Supplemental inspired oxygen therapy also showed positive results, particularly in reducing surgical site infections during gastrointestinal and vascular surgeries.
What This Means for Canadian Patients
For Canadian patients experiencing slow-healing wounds or undergoing surgery, these findings suggest that various oxygen therapies could potentially accelerate healing and reduce complications like surgical site infections. Patients should discuss with their healthcare providers whether local, hyperbaric, or supplemental oxygen therapy might be a suitable option for their specific wound care needs.
Canadian Relevance
This systematic review did not include any specific Canadian studies or data.
Study Limitations
The review was limited by a lack of clinical studies and significant methodological diversity across the included research, which hindered comprehensive analysis.