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In a previous pilot study, we demonstrated that adjunctive treatment with hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) appears to be feasible and safe in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and may result in an attenuated rise in creatine phosphokinase (CPK), more rapid resolution of pain and ST changes. This randomized multicenter trial was organized to further assess the safety and feasibility of this treatment in human subjects. Patients with an AMI treated with recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rTPA) or streptokinase (STK), were randomized to treatment with HBO combined with either rTPA or STK, or rTPA or STK alone. An analysis included 112 patients, 66 of whom had inferior AMIs (p = NS). The remainder of the patients had anterior AMIs. The mean CPK at 12 and 24 h was reduced in the HBO patients by approximately 7.5% (p = NS). Time to pain relief was shorter in the HBO group. There were 2 deaths in the control and 1 in those treated with HBO. The left ventricle ejection fraction (LVEF) on discharge was 51.7% in the HBO group as compared to 48.4% in the controls (p = NS). The LVEF of the controls was 43.4 as compared to 47.6 for those treated, approximately 10% better (no significant difference). Treatment with HBO in combination with thrombolysis appears to be feasible and safe for patients with AMI and may result in an attenuated CPK rise, more rapid resolution of pain and improved ejection fractions. More studies are needed to assess the benefits of this treatment.

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