Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy in Children with Brain Injury: A Retrospective Case Series.

Some experimental studies on brain injury associated with traumatic brain injury (TBI) and hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy (HIE) reveal a positive effect of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT). However, in clinical medicine, most of the scientific evidence available in the current literature relates only to TBI. The primary objective is to empirically assess the efficacy of HBOT in mitigating the symptoms of disability associated with brain injury in children, with a view to elucidating its therapeutic potential and clinical benefits. A total of 21 patients have been treated with HBOT. The mean age was 6±4.6 years. There were 12 cases (57%) of TBI, 8 cases (38%) of HIE and 1 case (5%) of ischaemic stroke. The mean initial Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) at hospital admission immediately after accident was 3.3±0.9. The mean time from injury to HBOT was 5.2 ± 3.8 weeks. The mean number of HBOT exposures was 10±4.3. The mean GCS pre-HBOT was 10.7±3.7 and 12.3±3.4 (p=0.004) after post-HBOT, respectively. The mean Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS) was 3.3±0.8 pre-HBOT, and 3.9±1.1 (p<0.001) after post-HBOT, respectively. Eighteen cases were included in response to HBOT assessment. Six cases (33%) were evaluated as large clinically significant response (CSR), 7 cases (39%) were evaluated as partial response with minimally important difference (MID). Five cases (28%) were evaluated as non-response. The results showed better response to HBOT in cases of starting HBOT up to 4 weeks (p=0.02) after the injury. There was no serious HBOT-related complication or injury. Results of our study demonstrate both clinical and statistically significant patient response to HBOT. Our data also suggest that the earlier HBOT started after diagnosis up to 4 weeks, the more pronounced patients' response to HBOT was achieved. The provision of HBOT to pediatric patients is feasible in large regional hyperbaric centers.