Clinical study of early hyperbaric oxygen therapy for cerebral resuscitation

Objective To observe the effect of early hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) therapy on cerebral resuscitation and to provide good evidence and method for the treatment of cerebral resuscitation.Methods The patients responded to cardiac pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) were divided into 2 groups,the early HBO group( within one week of onset) and the delayed HBO group (after 1 week of onset).All the patients were given routine medicinal treatment coupled with HBO therapy.The exposure pressure of HBO and the course of treatment were all the same,only the time point of HBO intervention was different.Evaluation was made by using "the Revised 2001 PVS Criteria for Diagnosis and Treatment" ( the Nanjing Criteria).Consciousness of the patients was evaluated both before HBO therapy and 6 months after onset.Results Of the 18 patients who received early HBO therapy,4 patients recovered and returned to normal life (effective),5 patients became fully conscious,but with minor disability (effective),and 9 patients became vegetable (ineffective),with a total effective rate of 50.0％.Of the 53 patients with delayed HBO therapy,9 patients recovered and returned to normal life (effective),15 patients became fully conscious,but with minor disability (effective),and 29 patients became vegetable (ineffective),with a total effective rate of 45.3％.No significant differences could be seen in effective rates between the 2 groups (P ＞0.05).However,statistical significance could be noted,when effective rates of the 2 groups were compared with those presented in domestic and international reports (2％-10％ ) ( P ＜ 0.05 ).Conclusions In-time HBO therapy could improve prognosis of some patients following cardiac resuscitation,protect neural cells,and improve the intelligence of patients,however,early and ultra-early HBO therapy could not increase the effective rate of cerebral resuscitation. Key words: Cardiac pulmonary resuscitation;  Hyperbaric oxygen;  Cerebral resuscitation