What Researchers Did
Researchers retrospectively reviewed 23 patients with pre-existing heart failure who underwent elective hyperbaric oxygen therapy at two Canadian centers to analyze HBOT-related acute heart failure complications.
What They Found
Twenty-three patients with a history of heart failure (13 with HFpEF, 7 with HFrEF) completed an average of 39 elective hyperbaric oxygen therapy sessions.
The study found no acute heart failure complications among these patients during or immediately after their therapy, suggesting its safety in this population.
What This Means for Canadian Patients
Canadian patients with heart failure, including those with reduced ejection fraction, may be able to safely undergo elective hyperbaric oxygen therapy without experiencing acute heart failure complications.
This could expand treatment options for conditions where HBOT is indicated, even for those with pre-existing heart conditions.
Canadian Relevance
This study is highly relevant to Canadian patients as it was conducted at two Hyperbaric Centers in Ontario: Toronto General Hospital and Rouge Valley Hyperbaric Medical Centre.
Study Limitations
The retrospective design and small sample size of 23 patients limit the generalizability of these findings.