What Researchers Did
Physicians at Toronto General Hospital reviewed the evidence on whether routine ECG and echocardiogram testing before HBOT is necessary to screen for cardiac complications, and proposed a practical clinical decision-making framework.
What They Found
HBOT causes predictable physiological changes, increased blood pressure and decreased heart rate and cardiac output, that are generally well-tolerated. Routine cardiac testing lacks strong evidence for routine use and may not be cost-effective for most patients. The authors propose that a focused history and physical exam targeting specific high-risk features is a more practical pre-HBOT cardiac screen.
What This Means for Canadian Patients
For Canadians referred for HBOT, this means most patients do not need expensive cardiac testing before treatment. However, specific groups, those on dialysis or with implanted cardiac devices, may need extra evaluation. A clear risk-stratification tool from a Canadian institution helps clinicians across the country make better referral and screening decisions.
Canadian Relevance
This is a Canadian study. Authors are from Toronto General Hospital / University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario.
Study Limitations
This paper is a narrative review and expert opinion rather than a clinical trial, so the proposed decision tool has not been validated in a prospective patient cohort.