What Researchers Did
American researchers systematically reviewed pre-clinical and clinical evidence on inhalational gas therapies including hyperbaric oxygen, hydrogen gas, hydrogen sulfide, nitric oxide, xenon, and argon for neuroprotection after traumatic brain injury.
What They Found
HBOT has the most established evidence base, with documented effects on cerebral blood flow, inflammation reduction, and neurological recovery. Newer agents like hydrogen and xenon show promising pre-clinical results but lack robust clinical trials.
What This Means for Canadian Patients
For TBI patients, HBOT remains the most clinically supported inhalational therapy for brain injury. Emerging alternatives may eventually offer additional options, but HBOT is the only gas therapy with substantial human clinical evidence.
Canadian Relevance
No direct Canadian connection identified.
Study Limitations
This systematic review is limited by heterogeneity of included studies, and many promising agents have only animal-model data.