CONDITIONS BEING TREATED WITH HYPERBARIC OXYGEN THERAPY Following is a list of conditions currently being treated with HBOT worldwide. Most are considered experimental and controversial by the mainstream medical community, with only testimonials and anecdotal evidence for benefit. Medical insurance in the United States and elsewhere will often refuse payment. (* Conditions marked with an asterisk below are sometimes reimbursed for a short time by Medicare and other medical insurance in the U.S., but only if strictly defined diagnostic criteria are met.) Emergency Indications
Specific Neurologic Indications
Orthopedic Indications
Miscellaneous Indications
Research Report of Hyperbaric Oxygen Benefit for Stroke Victims Published clinical studies describing results from treating stroke patients with hyperbaric oxygen, performed at 11 different hyperbaric centers, were analyzed for benefit (a total of 265 patients). The cumulative amount of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (DHBOT) was calculated by multiplying chamber oxygen pressure (ATA) times the duration of each HBOT (in hours), times the total number of hyperbaric treatments. Efficacy of HBOT (EfHBOT) was computed from the number of patients in each study who showed significant clinical improvement of their neurologic status as a result of HBOT (percentage of the total number of patients who improved). The amount of benefit was compared with the total amount of HBOT. Analysis showed that benefit increased progressively as more treatments were given, as graphically depicted below.
From the graphic plot above it can be seen that average improvement increased with each treatment and that 30 one-hour HBOT treatments resulted in progressive benefit. For many patients that benefit continued to increase with additional therapy and 30 treatments is not usually considered adequate for full benefit. Reference below linked to publication and abstract in the National Library of Medicine, NIH, Database
FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA. — Hyperbaric oxygen therapy improves cognitive and social function in children with chronic brain injury, according to a study presented at a symposium on hyperbaric oxygen therapy. Daily living, socialization, communication, and motor skills significantly improved for 21 children treated with hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT), compared with 21 brain-injured patients who received standard therapy. Researchers included a third group of 21 healthy children to control for normal growth and development, reported Dr. Charles J. Golden at the symposium sponsored by the Ocean Hyperbaric Neurologic Center. Participants were assessed more than 1 year after onset of their brain injury. The majority had cerebral palsy. The average age was 4.5 years (range, 12 months to 18 years), said Dr. Golden, professor of psychology and director, Neuropsychology Assessment Center, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Average functioning level was close to two standard deviations below average—“so this was a very low functioning group,” he added. Mild changes in some areas but no changes in the cerebellum were noted after 35 HBOT sessions, compared with baseline, Dr. Golden said. “This is not unexpected. These children had injuries high up in the brain.” “Interestingly, you can predict reasonably well who will be a responder based on response over the first 35 treatments,” he said. “Some people are just nonresponders—you can give them 200 treatments, and they will not respond. Others are marvelous responders who respond well and right away.” After a second round of 35 HBOT treatments, “there was a much greater effect on blood flow—so it seems to be a time-based effect,” Dr. Golden said. The HBOT group made major changes in all areas that were greater than either the normal or standard therapy control groups. “This is a group who is at the end—they have failed multiple therapies. And still we have about 70% who respond [to HBOT],” said Dr. Golden. “The plasticity of the brain may be much greater than we imagined. HBOT may stimulate ability of the brain to reorganize itself.” Dr. Golden and his associates used the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales to rate basic adaptive, motor, and cognitive abilities “This can be used without a child having to perform for us, which is challenging with cerebral palsy,” he said. They assessed blood flow changes with a series of three single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) scans before, during, and after HBOT treatment. They assessed the cerebellum, pons, right and left hemisphere subcortical areas, and the cortical region. "Improvements in motor functions [from HBOT] allowed them to do things they could not do at the beginning of the study."
Damian McNamara, Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Helps Children Who Have Chronic Brain Injury. Family Practice News, Volume 36, Issue 19, Page 49 (01 October 2006) |