What Researchers Did
Doctors reviewed medical charts of patients with heart failure who chose to have hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT), to see whether it caused heart-related complications.
What They Found
This retrospective cohort study reviewed 23 patients with pre-existing heart failure who underwent elective HBOT at two Toronto-area hyperbaric centers, completing an average of 39 sessions (range 6-62) at either 2.0 ATA (11 patients) or 2.4 ATA (12 patients); only two patients received fewer than 10 sessions. Twenty-one of the 23 patients completed treatment without complications, but two patients, including one with reduced ejection fraction, developed symptoms consistent with HBOT-related heart failure exacerbation. Of the group, 13 patients had preserved ejection fraction (mean LVEF 55%), 7 had reduced ejection fraction (mean LVEF 35%) with some also having reduced right heart function, valve leakage, or high lung pressure, and 3 had mid-range ejection fraction (mean LVEF 44%). Nearly all patients were already being treated with diuretics or dialysis for fluid balance.
Canadian Relevance
This study was conducted in Canada, reviewing patients treated at two Toronto-area hyperbaric centers (Toronto General Hospital and Rouge Valley Hyperbaric Medical Centre).
Study Limitations
This was a small, retrospective chart review of only 23 patients at two centers with no control group, so it cannot prove that HBOT caused or did not cause the heart failure symptoms observed.