Positron emission computed tomography analysis of hyperbaric oxygen therapy on patients with severe brain injury

Abstract

Objective By using 18F-deoxyglucose (18F-FDG) positron emission computed tomography (PET-CT) to measure the brain glucose metabolism of patients with severe traumatic brain injury before and after hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) therapy,and to investigate the mechanisms of H BO treating patients with traumatic brain injury.Methods Twenty-six patients suffered form severe traumatic brain injury with stable vital signs within 2 weeks were randomly divided into the HBO group and the control group.The patients of both groups received routine clinical interventions (including neuroprotection,dehydration,reducing intracranial pressure,anti-infection and other symptomatic treatments).Patients of the HBO group received the basic treatment combined with HBO therapy one tine per day for 7 days per week.In early stage and 4 weeks after treatment,all patients were examined with PET-CT scanning and Glasgow coma scale (GCS),disability rating scale (DRS) at the same time.Results There was standard uptake value (SUV) of significant difference between affected and unaffected brain areas in two groups before treatment(P＜0.01),but no significant difference between two groups (P＞0.05).After 4-week of treatment,SUV of affected and unaffected brain areas of two groups improved,the damaged area of HBO group improved obviously and the SUV was much better than before treatment and the control group (P＜0.0l).The GCS and DRS scores of HBO group were also significantly better than that of control group (P＜0.05).Conclusion The 18F-FDG PET-CT examination showed that HBO therapy can significantly improve glucose metabolism function of the brain damaged area,promote the brain functional recovery and awakening,and improve the prognosis in patients with severe traumatic brain injury. Key words: Hyperbaric oxygenation; Craniocerebral trauma; Positron emission tomography