The sequelae of hyperbaric oxygen treatment

Nowadays, hyperbaric oxygen can be said to be a very mature treatment technology. Hyperbaric oxygen is a technology that allows patients to breathe high-purity oxygen in an environment that exceeds atmospheric pressure. Hyperbaric oxygen is very helpful for some patients with brain trauma. So, is it recommended for healthy people to do hyperbaric oxygen? In fact, we do not recommend it. Because high-pressure oxygen treatment is likely to cause some sequelae.

Oxygen poisoning: refers to the functional or organic damage caused by oxygen to the body after inhaling high concentrations of oxygen for a certain period of time under high pressure or normal pressure. Oxygen poisoning can be divided into central, pulmonary, hemolytic and ocular types. No matter which type of oxygen poisoning occurs, the entire body is affected simultaneously. Clinically, oxygen inhalation at pressures higher than 0.3 MPa, arbitrarily extending the oxygen inhalation time during routine treatment, and prolonged inhalation of oxygen concentrations higher than 50% at normal pressure are common causes of oxygen poisoning.

There are roughly three aspects to its mechanism:

1. The toxic effects of oxygen on central metabolism;

2. Toxic effects of oxygen on enzymes;

3. Excessive production of free radicals.

Once oxygen poisoning occurs, stop oxygen inhalation immediately, which can usually relieve the symptoms. Vitamin E, C, K, magnesium ion preparations, etc. can prevent oxygen poisoning.

2) Barotrauma: Common ones include middle ear barotrauma, paranasal sinus barotrauma and lung barotrauma. In addition, if pneumothorax is not discovered and treated in time during decompression, the gas in the chest cavity may over-expand, the lungs and heart may be compressed, and the mediastinum may swing, which may cause sudden death of the patient.

3) Decompression sickness: The decompression speed is too fast and the amplitude is too large, which reduces the solubility of gas in the tissue, and forms bubbles in the blood and tissue, causing vascular gas embolism and tissue compression, a high-risk condition. Fortunately, this situation mostly occurs in diving operations and is very rare in general HBO treatment. As long as we attach importance to it and strictly follow the procedures, this disease is not difficult to prevent. Breathing pure oxygen at a pressure greater than one atmosphere is called hyperbaric oxygen therapy. Ordinary oxygen inhalation takes place in an atmospheric pressure environment, and the oxygen inhaled is not pure oxygen. The concentration and pressure of oxygen are low and the effect is not as good as that of high-pressure oxygen.

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy for cerebral hemorrhage

1. Hyperbaric oxygen can reduce cerebral edema and quickly lower intracranial pressure.

2. Hyperbaric oxygen can quickly increase the oxygen content and oxygen storage of brain tissue, improve hypoxia of brain tissue and peripheral tissues, and reduce degeneration and necrosis of brain cells.

3. Hyperbaric oxygen can increase the oxygen diffusion distance of brain tissue capillaries, which can compensate for the hypoxic areas caused by the increased distance between capillaries due to cerebral edema.

4. Hyperbaric oxygen can increase the oxygen supply to the damaged cells around the hematoma (ischemic penumbra area) and accelerate the recovery of damaged cells.

5. Hyperbaric oxygen can accelerate the removal of hematoma, accelerate the regeneration of collagen fibers and capillaries, and accelerate the repair of lesions.

6. Hyperbaric oxygen can increase vertebral

The blood flow in the basilar artery can increase the oxygen partial pressure in the reticular activating system and brainstem, speed up the recovery of consciousness, and thus maintain the normal activities of life functions.

7. Hyperbaric oxygen increases the content of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase and glutathione (GSH). Enhance the ability to scavenge free radicals and resist oxidation, and reduce reperfusion injury.

8. Hyperbaric oxygen can inhibit bacterial growth and help control secondary infections.