What Researchers Did
Researchers critically analyzed established and controversial oxygen treatment methods.
What They Found
They found that conventional oxygen therapy effectively treats diseases related to chronic or intermittent hypoxaemia. However, alternative oxygen therapies, including oxygen multistep therapy and intravenous oxygen insufflation, lacked proven effectiveness for their numerous alleged indications. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy was suggested for acute inner ear hypoxy in single cases, beyond its internationally recognized uses.
What This Means for Canadian Patients
Canadian patients experiencing hypoxaemia can benefit from conventional oxygen therapy, which is an established and effective treatment. They should be cautious about alternative oxygen therapies, as their effectiveness for various conditions has not been scientifically proven.
Canadian Relevance
This study has no specific Canadian connection.
Study Limitations
A limitation is that this critical analysis, published in 1998, may not reflect the most current evidence regarding oxygen treatment methods.