Clinical effect analysis of hyperbaric oxygen on postoperative patients with cerebral contusion and hernia

Abstract

Objective To investigate the clinical effect of hyperbaric oxygen on the recovery of nervous function and complication occurrence of the postoperative patients with cerebral contusion and hernia. Methods The clinical data of postoperative patients with cerebral contusion and hernia in the Affiliated Hospital of North Sichuan Medical College in recent 6 years were analyzed retrospectively. All the cases met the criteria were then classified based on whether received hyperbaric oxygen into hyperbaric oxygen group (HBO group) and control group. The patients of the HBO group received more than one course of hyperbaric oxygen, while the patients of the control group received routine treatment. The incidences of traumatic epilepsy, traumatic hydrocephalus, subdural effusion, and the Glasgow coma score (GCS) and Glasgow outcome score (GOS) at specific time of the two groups were compared. Results Seven cases of traumatic epilepsy were observed in the HBO group and control group respectively. There was no significant difference of the incidence of traumatic epilepsy (χ2=0.145, P=0.70). Three cases of traumatic hydrocephalus were in the HBO group while 7 cases were in the control group. The difference between the two groups was statistically significant (χ2=4.676, P=0.03). Eight cases of subdural effusion were detected in the HBO group while 19 cases in the control group. The difference was statistically significant (χ2=8.390, P=0.004). The GCS score of the HBO group (7.72±1.51) was higher than that of the control group (7.26±1.13) with statistical significance two weeks after operation (t=2.164, P=0.03). The GCS score of the HBO group (8.94±1.74) was higher than that of the control group (8.08±1.48) with statistical significance four weeks after operation (t=3.261, P=0.001). Six months after operation, the GOS score of the HBO group (3.75±0.65) was higher than that of the control group (3.16±0.79) with statistical significance (t=4.883, P<0.001). Conclusion Hyperbaric oxygen can not only reduce the incidence of traumatic hydrocephalus and subdural effusion, but also promote the recovery of neural function and improve the life quality of the postoperative patients with cerebral contusion and hernia. Key words: Cerebral contusion; Cerebral hernia; Severe traumatic brain injury; Hyperbaric oxygen; Traumatic epilepsy; Traumatic hydrocephalus; Traumatic subdural effusion