What Researchers Did
Researchers reviewed all oxygen toxicity seizures (OTS) that occurred in patients undergoing hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) at the Fremantle Hospital Hyperbaric Medicine Unit over a 20-year period.
What They Found
Out of 41,273 HBOT sessions in 3,737 patients, 25 OTS occurred, resulting in an overall rate of 0.06% (1 in 1,650 exposures). The rate was 0.56% for dysbarism and 0.18% for carbon monoxide poisoning, increasing significantly with higher treatment pressures (e.g., OR 8.5 for >203 kPa versus <=203 kPa).
What This Means for Canadian Patients
Canadian patients receiving hyperbaric oxygen therapy should be informed about the low but present risk of oxygen toxicity seizures. Healthcare providers should carefully consider pressure settings to help minimize this complication during treatment.
Canadian Relevance
This study has no direct Canadian connection as it was conducted at a single hyperbaric unit in Australia.
Study Limitations
The study's findings are based on a retrospective review from a single hyperbaric unit, which may limit their generalizability to other settings.