Stroke and hyperbaric oxygen therapy: results on 3 patients
In 2013, Dr. Shai Efrati and his team conducted a study to evaluate the effectiveness of hyperbaric oxygen therapy on stroke victims.
After 2 months of sessions in a hyperbaric chamber, a significant improvement in the quality of life of patients was observed. You will find 3 examples of improvement at the end of the article.
Stroke
A stroke, also often referred to as a “stroke,” occurs when blood flow to or within the brain is interrupted.
The nature of the stroke can be due to a blocked blood vessel (ischemic stroke) or a ruptured blood vessel (hemorrhagic stroke).
Spontaneous recovery from stroke occurs primarily within the first 30 days, although survivors of more severe strokes continue to improve for at least 90 days. Most recovery occurs in brain regions that are rendered dysfunctional, but not dead.
These could remain alive but "on standby" for months or even years after the attack.
Treating stroke victims with a hyperbaric chamber
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is the one and only way to increase our body's ability to absorb oxygen. Thus, during a session in a hyperbaric chamber, we can obtain 2 to 3 times more oxygen than usual. This supplement triggers, at the cellular level, several repair mechanisms. If you are not yet familiar with this therapy, I invite you to read this page .
In this study, patients underwent hyperbaric oxygen therapy sessions for 2 months.
What progress has been made for stroke victims treated with hyperbaric oxygen therapy?
The team of scientists followed 59 former stroke victims, whose attack was between 6 and 36 months old. In order to measure the evolution of their disability, the patients were evaluated before and after their hyperbaric oxygen therapy treatment. Several tests and measurement scales were used:
In addition, brain images were taken before and after treatment.
Scientifically proven progress
First, a first group of 30 patients completed 2 months of sessions in a hyperbaric chamber. The scores obtained on the various tests and scales are significantly better at the end of the treatment. For a better understanding, I have represented them in the form of graphs:
Orange columns: scores after hyperbaric treatment
- NIHSS , ADL and EQ-5D : Scores are lower after treatment. This indicates less pronounced disability.
- EQ-VAS : The score is higher. This indicates a better state of health felt by the patient.
Then, a second group of 29 patients was formed. But these patients did not receive treatment right away... The goal was to measure the evolution of their progress in parallel with that of the first group. As expected, the patients in the second group did not progress significantly:
Light blue columns: scores 2 months later, after no treatment
Then, after 2 months of waiting, these patients did indeed receive hyperbaric oxygen therapy treatment. And this time, the progress was definitely there:
Orange columns: scores after hyperbaric treatment
An improvement in the quality of life for these stroke victims
Furthermore, by reading the study, it is possible to have more details concerning the improvements observed in 3 patients.
Here are the observations made by the team:
Patient number 1
Before treatment:
A 61-year-old woman in the second group had left hemiparesis due to ischemic stroke 1 year earlier. The pretreatment NIHSS showed minor facial paresis, inability to hold her left hand in a suspended position, inability to hold her left leg in a suspended position for more than 5 seconds, and mild-moderate sensory loss. As noted in the ADL , she required assistance with bathing, dressing, and climbing stairs. She was unable to do housework.
After 2 months of hyperbaric oxygen therapy:
After therapy, she was able to hold her hand and leg in a suspended position without significant sensory loss.
She could move her fingers, was independent in washing, dressing, shopping and cooking.
Patient number 2
Before treatment:
A 62-year-old woman in the first group had right hemiparesis due to an ischemic stroke that occurred 14 months previously. The NIHSS before treatment indicated inability to move her right arm and effort when holding her right leg in a suspended position. In addition, aphasia , alexia , and dysarthria were characterized as mild-moderate.
As stated in the ADL , she was completely dependent to wash and dress herself. She needed assistance with mobility, walking, climbing stairs, and eating.
After 2 months of hyperbaric oxygen therapy:
After therapy, she could hold her right hand in a suspended state, move her fingers, and hold her leg in a suspended state.
She has regained speech (almost fluently) and her reading skills. As stated in the ADL , she is now able to walk, climb stairs, and eat on her own. She is no longer dependent on washing or dressing herself.
Patient number 3
Before treatment:
64-year-old woman, part of the first group, suffering from right hemiparesis due to an ischemic stroke, which occurred 26 months previously.
After 2 months of hyperbaric oxygen therapy:
After therapy, the leg hemiparesis resolved, her hand function improved significantly but she did not regain full fine motor skills.
Conclusion
The study concludes as follows:
To conclude, in this study we provide, for the first time, convincing results demonstrating that hyperbaric oxygen therapy can induce significant neurological improvement in post-stroke patients.
Neurological improvements at a late chronic stage demonstrate that neuroplasticity can be operational and activated by hyperbaric oxygen therapy even long after an acute brain insult.
Thus, the results have important implications that may be of general interest and of interest in neurobiology. Although this study focused on stroke patients, the results carry the promise that hyperbaric oxygen therapy may serve as a valuable therapeutic practice in other neurological disorders with a discrepancy between anatomical and functional assessment of the brain.
How does a session in a hyperbaric chamber take place?
Below, I offer you a short video to show you concretely the progress of a session (which is also called " diving ") in a hyperbaric chamber. Subtitles are available for the hearing impaired.