Patients undergoing partial hepatectomy show modified neutrophil activity following post-operative hyperbaric oxygenation.

 

Clinical bottom line:

1. Clinical significance unclear.
2. HBOT in the acute post-operative period reduced neutrophil activation.

 

Citation:
1. Ueno S, Tanabe G, Kihara K, Aoki D, Arikawa K, Dogomori H, Aikou T. Early postoperative hyperbaric oxygen therapy modifies neutrophile activation. Hepato-Gastroenterology 1999; 46:1798-1799.
Lead author's name and fax: Shinichi Ueno, Fax: +81 992 65 7426

 

Three-part Clinical Question: In patients undergoing major surgery does hyperbaric oxygen therapy modify post-operative sinusoidal endothelial damage caused by activated neutrophils?
Search Terms:
hyperbaric oxygenation, endothelium, neutrophil

 

The Study:
Non-blinded randomised controlled trial without intention-to-treat.
Study Patients: Non-cirrhotic patients undergoing elective hepatectomy for liver cancer.
Control group: (N = 12; 12 analysed): Standard post-operative care to maintain normal haemodynamic values.
Experimental group: (N = 12; 12 analysed): Above, plus 2 sessions breathing 100% oxygen at 2ATA for 60 minutes at 3 hours and 24 hours post-operatively.

 

The Evidence:

Outcome

Time to Outcome

Control group

HBO group

Relative risk reduction

Absolute risk reduction

NNT

serum total bilirubin >5mg/dl for 3 d

3 days

0.250

0

100%

0.25

4

95% Confidence Intervals:

 

0.01 to 0.50

2 to 200

Hepatic failure

3 days

0

0

 

0.00

 

95% Confidence Intervals:

 

0.00 to 0.00

 

Intraperitoneal infection

3 days

0.083

0

 

 

 

95% Confidence Intervals:

 

 

 

 

Non-Event Outcomes

Time to outcome

Control group

HBO group

P-value

PMNL elastase (mcg/L).

12 hrs

870

500

<0.05

Thrombomodulin (U/ml)

12 hrs

25

18

<0.01

Intensity of fluorescence in CD18 (nm)

12 hrs

>10% increase

>10% decrease

0.003

 

Comments:
1. Difficult to appraise, with minimal information/explanations throughout.
2. Findings poorly explained and discussed.
3. No apparent allowance for multiple testing of dependent data for non-event outcomes.

 

Appraised by: Peter Hodkinson. Edinburgh Medical School. UK. Mike Bennett Sydney, Australia; Wednesday, October 29, 2003
Email: petehodkinson@hotmail.com

Kill or Update By: November 2006