What Researchers Did
The researchers searched major databases through January 2019 for studies comparing patients with a serious soft tissue infection who did or did not get hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT), and they looked at deaths.
What They Found
This systematic review of 21 studies of necrotizing soft tissue infection (NSTI) found that the evidence on HBOT is poor and biased, with every included study at high to critical risk of bias. The database search identified 1733 studies, and 21 were included. Of those, 19 were case series with a control group. Most studies performed poorly in quality assessment. The link between HBOT and death was generally reported as positive, but the authors say these results should be viewed with great scepticism.
Canadian Relevance
No direct Canadian connection identified.
Study Limitations
The included studies were mostly case series with poor quality and high to critical risk of bias, so the reported positive link between HBOT and survival cannot be trusted as proof of benefit.