Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy for Necrotizing Soft Tissue Infections Reduces Mortality

However, it increases length of hospital stay and costs.

Controversy exists regarding the indications for hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBO) in the treatment of necrotizing soft tissue infections. In a secondary analysis of 45,913 patients with necrotizing soft tissue infections who were included in the Nationwide Inpatient Sample database from 1988 to 2009, researchers compared outcomes between patients who did and those who did not receive HBO.

The 405 patients who received HBO had more comorbidities and were more likely to be in larger, urban hospitals. No HBO-related complications were documented. The authors used propensity score analysis to reduce potential bias in patient characteristics between groups. Patients who received HBO had significantly lower mortality (4.5% vs. 9.4%; odds ratio, 0.4…

Reviewing Author

Kristi L. Koenig, MD, FACEP

Disclosures

Editorial boardsKoenig & Schultz's Disaster Medicine: Comprehensive Principles and Practices

Kristi L. Koenig, MD, FACEP

Disclosures

Editorial boardsKoenig & Schultz's Disaster Medicine: Comprehensive Principles and Practices