What Researchers Did
Researchers conducted a randomised phase II trial to evaluate hyperbaric oxygen therapy in patients with chronic arm lymphoedema following radiotherapy for cancer.
What They Found
At 12 months, the median ipsilateral limb volume was 131.2% in the control group and 133.5% in the hyperbaric oxygen therapy group, relative to the contralateral limb. The study found no evidence of a beneficial effect of hyperbaric oxygen therapy on arm lymphoedema or secondary endpoints.
What This Means for Canadian Patients
Canadian patients with chronic arm lymphoedema after cancer radiotherapy should be aware that hyperbaric oxygen therapy did not demonstrate a beneficial effect in this study. Therefore, current standard care remains the recommended approach for managing this condition.
Canadian Relevance
This study has no direct Canadian connection.
Study Limitations
The relatively small sample size of this phase II trial limits the generalizability of the findings.