Hyperbaric oxygen for lung infection patients with severe brain injury and tracheotomy

Abstract

Objective To compare the effectiveness of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) therapy and normal pressure oxygen inhalation for lung infection in patients with severe brain injury and tracheotomy.Methods Sixty lung infection patients with severe brain injury and tracheotomy were stratified by age and Glasgow coma scale (GCS) score into an HBO group (30) and a conventional therapy group (30).Both groups were given treatments to reduce intracranial hypertension and protect the brain,surgery,antibiotics,and symptomatic and support therapy.In the conventional group the patients received oxygen therapy at normal oxygen pressure by tracheal cannula.In the HBO group,the patients received HBO therapy through self-made oxygen devices by the authors.The body temperature,cough and expectoration,respiratory sounds and white blood cell (WBC) count were compared between the groups.Results There were statistically significant differences in body temperature,cough and expectoration,respiratory sounds and the normalized time for the count and classification of WBC between the groups.Conclusion HBO had good treatment effectiveness for excretion and expectorant in lung infection patients with severe brain injury and tracheotomy. Key words: Hyperbaric oxygenation; Craniocerebral trauma; Tracheotomy; Pulmonary edema; Lung infection