Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy in Septic Shock: A First-in-Human Pilot Trial

Introduction

Septic shock, a severe, life-threatening infection resulting in organ failure, has seen no successful, novel therapies emerge in the past two decades. In addition to hypoperfusion and inflammation, organ dysfunction in septic shock is caused by microvascular, mitochondrial, and immune dysfunction. Animal studies support the use of hyperbaric oxygen treatment to improve mitochondrial function and reduce the inflammatory cascade, suggesting a potential role for hyperbaric oxygen in treating septic shock.