What Researchers Did
Researchers prospectively collected pulmonary function data from 86 patients undergoing hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) to assess changes after 20, 40, and 60 treatment sessions.
What They Found
The study enrolled 86 patients, with data analyzed for 81 after 20 treatments, 52 after 40, and 12 after 60 sessions. No significant changes were observed in forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), forced vital capacity (FVC), or forced mid-expiratory flow (FEF25-75) after 20, 40, or 60 hyperbaric oxygen therapy sessions.
What This Means for Canadian Patients
Canadian patients undergoing hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) can be reassured that current treatment protocols appear to have no significant negative impact on their lung function. This suggests that HBOT is a relatively safe treatment regarding pulmonary health, allowing patients to focus on the primary benefits of their therapy.
Canadian Relevance
This study was conducted at a Canadian tertiary referral center, directly informing the safety profile of hyperbaric oxygen therapy for patients within the Canadian healthcare system.
Study Limitations
A limitation of this study is the decreasing number of patients available for analysis at later follow-up points, with only 12 patients after 60 treatments.