Hyperbaric
oxygen breathing improved reflex vasoconstriction on dependency in diabetic
patients with neuropathy.
Clinical Bottom Line:
1.
Blood flow on dependency was decreased significantly more while hyperbaric
oxygen breathing.
2.
No clinical outcomes were measured.
Appraised
by: Mike Bennett
Dept of Diving and Hyperbaric
Medicine
Prince of Wales Hospital
Sydney ; Thursday, 21 September
2000
Clinical
Scenario: A patient with diabetic
neuropathy.
Three-part
Question: In patients with diabetic
neuropathy, does the administration of hyperbaric oxygen, compared to normal air
breathing, improve sympathetic reflex vasoconstriction on making the legs
dependent?
Search
Terms: diabetic neuropathies, diabetic
angiopathies, diabetic foot
The
Study:
Non-blinded randomised
controlled trial, intention-to-treat unknown.
Patients with diabetic
neuropathy.
Control group (N = 4; 4 analysed):
15 sessions of air breathing at 2.4ATA for 90 minutes daily.
Experimental group (N = 4; 4
analysed): As above, but breathing 100% oxygen at 2.4ATA.
The
Evidence:
Outcome
Time to outcome
Control group
HBO group
P-value
Mean
blood flow
reduction
on
dependency
(2.4ATA)
3 wks
27.5%
44.8%
0.027
Comments:
1.
Abstract only, few details.
2.
Unusual comparison group
3.
It is not clear if the increased vasoconstriction occurred only after 15
treatments, or was present during all hyperbaric oxygen exposures.
4.
Clinical significance is unknown
Expiry date: April 2003
References:
1. Abidia A, Laden G, McCollum
P. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy improves reflex vasoconstriction induced by leg
dependency in patients with diabetic neuropathy. Undersea and Hyperbaric
Medicine 2000;27(suppl):44.
