What Researchers Did
Researchers retrospectively reviewed patient charts to determine the incidence of oxygen toxicity seizures and assess risk at different hyperbaric oxygen therapy treatment pressures.
What They Found
Out of 23,328 hyperbaric oxygen treatments in 931 patients, the overall seizure incidence was five per 10,000 treatments. Seizure risk significantly increased with higher pressures, from zero per 10,000 at 2.0 atm abs to 15 per 10,000 at 2.4/2.5 atm abs, and 51 per 10,000 at 2.8 atm abs.
What This Means for Canadian Patients
Canadian patients undergoing hyperbaric oxygen therapy should be aware that the risk of oxygen toxicity seizures increases with higher treatment pressures. Clinicians should carefully weigh the benefits of higher pressures against this increased seizure risk when making treatment decisions.
Canadian Relevance
This study has no direct Canadian connection.
Study Limitations
As a retrospective chart review, this study is limited by its reliance on existing medical records and potential for incomplete data.