Routine use of oxygen in the treatment of myocardial infarction: systematic review.
BACKGROUND
International guidelines recommend the routine use of oxygen therapy in the treatment of myocardial infarction (MI).


OBJECTIVE
To undertake a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised placebo-controlled trials of oxygen therapy in MI.


METHODS
Medline, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, EMBASE and CINHAL.


METHODS
Randomised placebo-controlled trials of oxygen therapy in MI.


METHODS
The primary clinical outcome was mortality.


RESULTS
Two of 51 potential studies met the inclusion criteria. The one study with substantive clinical outcome data reported that in uncomplicated MI, high-flow oxygen was associated with a non-significant increased risk of death (risk ratio 2.9, 95% CI 0.8 to 10.3, p = 0.08) and a greater serum aspartate aminotransferase level (difference 19.2 IU/ml, 95% CI 0 to 38.4, p = 0.05) than room air.


CONCLUSIONS
The limited evidence that does exist suggests that the routine use of high-flow oxygen in uncomplicated MI may result in a greater infarct size and possibly increase the risk of mortality.
Wijesinghe
M
M
Medical Research Institute of New Zealand, Wellington, New Zealand.
Perrin
K
K
Ranchord
A
A
Simmonds
M
M
Weatherall
M
M
Beasley
R
R
D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D019983:Guideline Adherence; D006801:Humans; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D010102:Oxygen Inhalation Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D016896:Treatment Outcome