What Researchers Did
Researchers compared 56 brain injury patients who received HBOT for paroxysmal sympathetic hyperactivity (PSH), a condition of uncontrolled nervous system surges, against 36 patients who did not receive HBOT, across five Chinese ICUs.
What They Found
After 3 courses of HBOT (twice daily, 70 minutes per session, 10 days per course), patients in the HBOT group had significantly higher Glasgow Coma Scale scores, lower PSH symptom scores, and shorter ICU stays than the control group. Symptoms of PSH, including fever, sweating, rapid heart rate, and muscle rigidity, were significantly reduced in HBOT patients.
What This Means for Canadian Patients
For Canadians recovering from traumatic brain injury or stroke in an ICU, PSH can extend recovery and worsen outcomes. This study suggests HBOT may shorten ICU stays and reduce the severity of these dangerous nervous system surges, potentially speeding the path to rehabilitation.
Canadian Relevance
No direct Canadian connection identified. Paroxysmal sympathetic hyperactivity after brain injury is not an OHIP-covered indication for HBOT in Ontario.
Study Limitations
This retrospective multi-center study had no randomization, meaning patients who received HBOT may have differed from controls in ways that influenced outcomes.