Outcome

This study highlights significant improvements in heart function and cardiac performance in asymptomatic patients who underwent hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT). Over 60 sessions key echocardiographic parameters showed promising results. The ejection fraction (EF) saw a meaningful increase and left ventricular end systolic volume (LVESV) decreased suggesting better heart pumping efficiency.

Introduction

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) has long been recognized for its wide-ranging therapeutic benefits. This study investigates the potential of HBOT to enhance cardiac function especially in patients with a history of high blood pressure and coronary artery disease. Conducted with 31 patients over 60 HBOT sessions the research focused on key echocardiographic parameters such as ejection fraction (EF) left ventricular end systolic volume (LVESV) myocardial performance index (MPi) global longitudinal strain and left ventricular twist. The study aimed to determine whether HBOT could significantly improve these parameters thereby offering a new avenue for treating heart failure and systolic dysfunction. The findings suggest noticeable improvements in heart function following HBOT indicating its potential as a valuable therapy for enhancing cardiovascular health.

Results

The study reveals that Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) significantly enhances cardiac performance and overall heart function particularly in patients with a history of hypertension and coronary artery disease. Conducted over 60 sessions with 31 patients the results demonstrated notable improvements in key echocardiographic parameters.

The ejection fraction (EF) which indicates the percentage of blood pumped out of the heart’s left ventricle with each contraction increased from 60.71% to 62.29% reflecting a more efficient heart function. Concurrently the Left Ventricular End Systolic Volume (LVESV)—the volume of blood remaining in the left ventricle after contraction—decreased from 38.08 ml to 35.39 ml indicating an improvement in heart muscle performance.

Significant enhancements were also observed in the Myocardial Performance Index (MPi) a marker of overall heart function which improved from 0.29 to 0.26. Additionally the study noted improvements in the Left Ventricular (LV) global longitudinal strain increasing from -19.31% to -20.16% demonstrating enhanced myocardial function particularly in the apical and antero-septal regions of the heart.

Notably the study documented a substantial increase in cardiac twist with the overall twist rising from 18.32° to 23.12° due to a marked improvement in apical rotation from 11.76° to 16.10°. This indicates better rotational dynamics of the heart contributing to improved cardiac output and efficiency.

These findings suggest that HBOT could play a crucial role in enhancing left ventricular function particularly in regions of the heart that are critical for its rotational and pumping action. The overall improvements in echocardiographic parameters underscore the therapy’s potential benefits for patients suffering from heart failure and systolic dysfunction.

Conclusion

In conclusion this study underscores the significant potential of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) to enhance cardiac function in asymptomatic patients. Key findings demonstrate marked improvements in critical echocardiographic parameters including increased ejection fraction reduced left ventricular end systolic volume improved myocardial performance index enhanced global longitudinal strain and increased left ventricular twist particularly in apical segments. These results suggest that HBOT could be a promising therapeutic option for patients with heart conditions such as heart failure and systolic dysfunction.

The positive outcomes observed advocate for further research to confirm these findings and explore the broader applications of HBOT in cardiovascular health. Such investigations could pave the way for HBOT to become an integral component in the treatment and management of various heart-related ailments providing an innovative approach to improving overall cardiac performance and patient outcomes in cardiovascular care.