Breathing Hydrogen-Oxygen Mixture Decreases Inspiratory Effort in Patients with Tracheal Stenosis

Abstract

Background: Hydrogen-oxygen mixture (H₂-O₂) may reduce airway resistance in patients with acute severe tracheal stenosis, yet data supporting the clinical use of H₂-O₂ are insufficient. Objectives: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of breathing H₂-O₂ in acute severe tracheal stenosis. Methods: Thirty-five consecutive patients with severe acute tracheal stenosis were recruited in this prospective self-control study. Air, H₂-O₂ and O₂ inhalation was given in 4 consecutive breathing steps: air for 15 min, H₂-O₂ (6 L per min, H₂:O₂ = 2: 1) for 15 min, oxygen (3 L per min) for 15 min, and H₂-O₂ for 120 min. The primary endpoint was inspiratory effort as assessed by diaphragm electromyography (EMGdi); the secondary endpoints were transdiaphragmatic pressure (Pdi), Borg score, vital signs, and impulse oscillometry (IOS). The concentration of H₂ in the ambient environment was obtained with 12 monitors. Adverse reactions during the inhalation were recorded. Results: The mean reduction in the EMGdi under H₂-O₂ was 10.53 ± 6.83%. The EMGdi significantly decreased during 2 H₂-O₂ inhalation steps (Steps 2 and 4) compared with air (Step 1) and O₂ (Step 3) (52.95 ± 15.00 vs. 42.46 ± 13.90 vs. 53.20 ± 14.74 vs. 42.50 ± 14.12% for Steps 1 through 4, p < 0.05). The mean reduction in the Pdi under H₂-O₂ was 4.77 ± 3.51 cmH₂O. Breathing H₂-O₂ significantly improved the Borg score and resistance parameters of IOS but not vital signs. No adverse reactions occurred. H₂ was undetectable in the environment throughout the procedure. Conclusions: Breathing H₂-O₂ may reduce the inspiratory effort in patients with acute severe tracheal stenosis and can be used for this purpose safely.

Hydrogen and Oxygen Mixture to Improve Cardiac Dysfunction and Myocardial Pathological Changes Induced by Intermittent Hypoxia in Rats

“…Previous researches have demonstrated 67% H 2 and 33% O 2 mixture gas strikingly decreased ROS induced by ischemia-reperfusion in the brain [34, 50], liver [51], and heart [52] in animal models. Clinical studies have reported 67% H 2 and 33% O 2 mixture reduced the inspiratory effort in patients with acute severe tracheal stenosis [53] and restored the exhausted supply of CD8+ T cells in patients with advanced colorectal cancer [54]. Our results showed 67% H 2 and 33% O 2 mixture gas increased T-SOD and GSH activity and decreased MDA content against the elevated ROS level induced by CIH.…”

Hydrogen: A Potential New Adjuvant Therapy for COVID-19 Patients

“…Furthermore, breathing H 2 -O 2 might reduce the inspiratory effort in patients with acute severe tracheal stenosis and can be used safely for this purpose (Zhou et al, 2019). Although H 2 gas is flammable, concentrations < 4%, together with oxygen at room temperature, are incombustible.…”

“…Clinical research has shown that hydrogen dissolved in irrigation solution reduces corneal endothelial damage during phacoemulsification ( Igarashi et al, 2019 ). Furthermore, breathing H 2 -O 2 might reduce the inspiratory effort in patients with acute severe tracheal stenosis and can be used safely for this purpose ( Zhou et al, 2019 ). Although H 2 gas is flammable, concentrations < 4%, together with oxygen at room temperature, are incombustible.…”

Strategies and Advances in Combating COVID-19 in China

“…Patients with COVID-19 have been characterized by increasingly laborious breathing as a result of greater airway resistance. Due to smaller molecular weight, helium-oxygen mixed gas has been applied to ameliorate dyspnea in patients with respiratory failure [102] and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease [103] . However, due to the low cost-effectiveness ratio, helium–oxygen mixed gas has not been extensively adopted in clinical practice.…”