Severe Complications After Ozone Therapy-related Stroke

Excerpt

Cerebral air embolism, although uncommon as a cause of ischemic stroke, typically arises from iatrogenic or traumatic sources, affecting either the venous or arterial circulation [1]. Oxygen-ozone therapy (OOT) has gained widespread popularity as a treatment for chronic pain and is often utilized outside of medical facilities, although the level of evidence is quite low and there are no clinical trials with good quality. It uses a mixture of oxygen and ozone delivered topically, systemically, or through the infiltration of muscles or articulations mainly for the treatment of musculoskeletal diseases causing pain, such as knee osteoarthritis, subacromial tendinopathy, lumbar and cervical herniated disk, sciatica, and myofascial syndrome [2]. Despite OOT being considered a safe practice, numerous case reports have raised concerns about the occurrence of important complications, particularly air embolisms [3‐5]. This article reports the case of a patient who experienced severe complications following ozone administration for cervical pain, resulting in a significant stroke accompanied by status epilepticus, an extended stay in the intensive care unit (ICU), and systemic complications. …