What Researchers Did
Researchers studied whether giving heart bypass surgery patients hyperbaric oxygen before their operation could reduce brain-related problems and inflammation afterward.
What They Found
This randomized double-blind trial of 64 patients compared atmospheric air pretreatment (group A, n=31, 1.5 ATA) to hyperbaric oxygen pretreatment (group B, n=33, 2.4 ATA) before coronary artery bypass grafting. Group A had a significant postoperative increase in the inflammatory markers soluble E-selectin, CD18, and heat shock protein 70, which was not observed in group B. Neuropsychometric dysfunction (measured by a battery of tests 4 months after surgery) was also significantly higher in group A compared with group B. The abstract reports no difference between groups in any other early postoperative clinical outcome.
What This Means for Canadian Patients
For patients undergoing coronary artery bypass surgery, this study suggests hyperbaric oxygen pretreatment at 2.4 ATA may reduce the inflammatory response and neuropsychometric dysfunction seen after cardiopulmonary bypass compared to a low-pressure air control. The abstract does not report whether this translated into differences in recovery time, hospital stay, or other longer-term outcomes.
Canadian Relevance
No direct Canadian connection identified.
Study Limitations
The two groups differed at baseline in Canadian Cardiovascular Society angina class, New York Heart Association dyspnea class, and rate of previous myocardial infarction, all significantly higher in group B, which may affect how the results should be interpreted.