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.
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.