European heart journal
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European heart journal · Jun 2013
ReviewOxygen therapy in acute coronary syndrome: are the benefits worth the risk?
Oxygen supplementation is a standard treatment for all patients who present with acute coronary syndrome, regardless of oxygen saturation levels. Most of the data regarding the function of oxygen in myocardial infarction is based on a limited number of basic and clinical studies. We performed a systematic literature review that explores the basic and clinical data on the function of oxygen in ischaemic heart disease and myocardial infarction. ⋯ Our findings suggest that there are conflicting data on the effects of oxygen treatment. Further, the potential harmful effects of oxygen must be considered, particularly in myocardial infarction. These findings question the current guidelines and recommendations and emphasize the need for large clinical trials.