What Researchers Did
A prospective trial evaluated the effect of hyperbaric oxygen therapy on organ/space sternal surgical site infections following cardiac surgery requiring sternotomy.
What They Found
Among 32 patients with postoperative sternal surgical site infections, those who received hyperbaric oxygen therapy (n=14) had a significantly lower infection relapse rate (0% vs. 33.3%, p=0.024) compared to those who did not (n=18). Additionally, the hyperbaric oxygen group experienced shorter durations of intravenous antibiotic use (47.8 vs. 67.6 days, p=0.036) and total hospital stay (52.6 vs. 73.6 days, p=0.026).
What This Means for Canadian Patients
Canadian patients undergoing cardiac surgery who develop severe sternal infections might benefit from hyperbaric oxygen therapy as an adjunct treatment. This could potentially lead to a reduced risk of infection recurrence and shorter hospital stays, improving recovery outcomes.
Canadian Relevance
This study was not conducted in Canada and does not have a direct Canadian connection.
Study Limitations
The study's non-randomized design and relatively small sample size of 32 patients limit the generalizability of the findings.