The role of hyperbaric oxygen in the management of subarachnoid hemorrhage.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

To determine the role of hyperoxic and hyperbaric therapy following experimental subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH).

DESIGN:

Prospective, randomized, controlled animal study.

SUBJECTS:

Thirty male Wistar rats.

INTERVENTIONS:

Thirty rats were assessed for an initial neurologic status as double-blinded by two different neurosurgeons using a neurologic severity score (NSS) and then underwent an initial angiographic examination. Two days later, 0.3 ml of homologous blood was injected into the cisterna magna to produce a SAH-induced cerebral vasospasm. The NSS and angiographic examination were then repeated. The rats having no spasm or a spasm under 50% (n=8) and 50% or over 50% (n=22) were grouped separately, as groups 1 and 2, respectively. The rats having 50% or more spasm were further divided randomly into group 2A and 2B. The rats in groups 1 and 2A (n=11) underwent a 60-min course of 100% oxygen at the atmospheric pressure 1 atmosphere absolute (ata), and group 2B (n=11) received 100% oxygen at 3 ata for 1 h. Neurologic assessment was repeated on the next day and 7 days later.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS:

The animals having no spasm or less than 50% spasm had a better NSS and outcome when compared with the animals having 50% or more spasm. But the animals with 50% or more spasm which underwent hyperbaric therapy were shown to have a better outcome compared to the animals having hyperoxic therapy.

CONCLUSION:

Exposure to hyperbaric oxygen therapy seemed to accelerate the recovery of neurologic deficits secondary to experimental SAH.

• Authors: Yalçin Kocaoğullar, M Erkan Ustün, Emel Avci, Aydin Karabacakoglu, Damirez Fossett
• Journal: Intensive care medicine (Intensive Care Med) Vol. 30 Issue 1 Pg. 141-6 (Jan 2004) ISSN: 0342-4642 [Print] United States
• PMID: 12904851 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article)

Topics

• Analysis of Variance
• Animals
• Blood Gas Analysis
• Blood Pressure
• Cerebral Angiography
• Chi-Square Distribution
• Disease Models, Animal
• Double-Blind Method
• Heart Rate
• Hyperbaric Oxygenation (methods)
• Male
• Oxygen Inhalation Therapy (methods)
• Random Allocation
• Rats
• Rats, Wistar
• Recovery of Function
• Severity of Illness Index
• Subarachnoid Hemorrhage (complications, diagnostic imaging, physiopathology, therapy)
• Time Factors
• Vasospasm, Intracranial (etiology)