Hyperbaric oxygen therapy for the treatment of traumatic brain injury: a meta-analysis

Neurological Sciences volume 37, pages693–701(2016)Cite this article

Abstract

Compelling evidence suggests the advantage of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) in traumatic brain injury. The present meta-analysis evaluated the outcomes of HBOT in patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI). Prospective studies comparing hyperbaric oxygen therapy vs. control in patients with mild (GCS 13–15) to severe (GCS 3–8) TBI were hand-searched from medical databases using the terms “hyperbaric oxygen therapy, traumatic brain injury, and post-concussion syndrome”. Glasgow coma scale (GCS) was the primary outcome, while Glasgow outcome score (GOS), overall mortality, and changes in post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) score, constituted the secondary outcomes. The results of eight studies (average age of patients, 23–41 years) reveal a higher post-treatment GCS score in the HBOT group (pooled difference in means = 3.13, 95 % CI 2.34–3.92, P < 0.001), in addition to greater improvement in GOS and lower mortality, as compared to the control group. However, no significant change in the PTSD score was observed. Patients undergoing hyperbaric therapy achieved significant improvement in the GCS and GOS with a lower overall mortality, suggesting its utility as a standard intensive care regimen in traumatic brain injury.

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Acknowledgments

This study is founded by National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 81260182); Natural Science Foundation of Yunnan Province (No. 2012FB036).

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  1. The Second Department of Neurosurgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, 295 Xichang Rd, Kunming, Yunnan, 650032, China

    Fei Wang, Yong Wang, Tao Sun & Hua-lin Yu

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  1. Fei Wang
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  2. Yong Wang
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  3. Tao Sun
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  4. Hua-lin Yu
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Correspondence to Hua-lin Yu.

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Wang, F., Wang, Y., Sun, T. et al. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy for the treatment of traumatic brain injury: a meta-analysis. Neurol Sci 37, 693–701 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10072-015-2460-2

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Keywords

  • Glasgow coma scale
  • Glasgow outcome score
  • Oxygen therapy
  • Post-concussion syndrome
  • Traumatic brain injury