What Researchers Did
Cardiologists reviewed the cardiovascular risks of six non-standard procedures, including HBOT for wound healing, to provide practical guidance on pre-treatment cardiac clearance for referred patients.
What They Found
The review describes the physiological effects of HBOT on the heart and circulatory system and recommends a three-step patient-centered approach before HBOT: understand the procedure's physiology, assess individual cardiovascular risk, then review available evidence. For most wound-healing HBOT patients, cardiovascular risk is manageable with standard pre-treatment screening.
What This Means for Canadian Patients
For Canadians with heart disease or prior cardiac events who are referred for HBOT, this review supports a systematic but non-alarmist approach to cardiac screening. Patients with pacemakers, a recent heart attack, or unstable angina should ensure their cardiologist and hyperbaric team communicate before treatment starts.
Canadian Relevance
No direct Canadian connection identified.
Study Limitations
This is a narrative review based on expert opinion and case-inspired scenarios rather than a systematic review of primary data, so recommendations may not reflect the full published evidence base.