Effect of hyperbaric oxygen coupled with rehabilitation therapy on patients with delayed encephalopathy after acute carbon monoxide poisoning in one year

Objective To investigate the effect of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) on patients with delayed encephalopathy after acute carbon monoxide poisoning (DEACMP) in one year,and also to explore if HBO therapy coupled with rehabilitation therapy could result in better therapeutic effects.Methods One hundred patients with DEACMP were randomly divided into 2 groups:the HBO group (n =50) and the rehabilitation + HBO group (n =50).Barthel Index (BI) was used to assess daily life activities of the patients,and Modified Ashworth Rating Scale was used to assess the muscular tension of the patients after treatment.The patients had clinical follow-ups every 3 months in one year,and 46 patients in each group had clinical followups as required.Results (1) BI data for the patients of the 2 groups within the period of one year were significantly higher than those detected at the previous time point.(2) At month 3,no statistical significance could be noted in BI,when comparisons were made between the 2 groups (P ＞ 0.05).However,at month 6 to 12,statistical significance' could be noticed in BI(P ＜0.05 or P ＜ 0.01).(3) Compared with the baseline,the Modified Ashworth scores of both groups at month 12 all improved significantly(P ＜ 0.01),and statistical significance could be noted in the Modified Ashworth scores at month 3 to 12,when comparisons were made between the 2 groups (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions (1) During 1-year follow-up,HBO therapy could improve daily life activities of DEACMP patients.(2) HBO therapy coupled with rehabilitation therapy could further decrease muscular tension of the patients and further improve their daily life activities within the period of 6months to 12 months,indicating that HBO therapy + rehabilitation therapy should not be terminated too early. Key words: Hyperbaric oxygen; Rehabilitation therapy; Delayed encephalopathy after acute carbon monoxide poisoning; Daily life activities; Muscular tension