Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy for Treatment of Postischemic Stroke in Adult Rats

Hyperbaric Oxygen for Stroke

“…Animals treated with HBO after either temporary (2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10) or permanent (9, 10) cerebral arterial occlusion showed decreased infarct size versus controls. Improved survival, function and behavior in HBO treated animals were also reported (2,3,5,6,9,10,11,13,14,15,16,17,18,19). Several of the studies used a model involving the nearly immediate institution of HBO, starting treatment immediately (2,9,13,20) or within minutes (8,11,12,14) of ischemia.…”

“…Improved survival, function and behavior in HBO treated animals were also reported (2,3,5,6,9,10,11,13,14,15,16,17,18,19). Several of the studies used a model involving the nearly immediate institution of HBO, starting treatment immediately (2,9,13,20) or within minutes (8,11,12,14) of ischemia. In models more consistent with conditions in a clinical setting, however, HBO delayed until several hours after the beginning of ischemia was also been shown to be effective.…”

“…HBO therapy of cerebral ischemia has been shown to be effective in numerous animal models of AIS (1). Animals treated with HBO after either temporary (2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10) or permanent (9, 10) cerebral arterial occlusion showed decreased infarct size versus controls. Improved survival, function and behavior in HBO treated animals were also reported (2,3,5,6,9,10,11,13,14,15,16,17,18,19).…”

“…There is also evidence that a percentage of the cells subjected to prolonged ischemia will inevitably undergo apoptosis, either after prolonged ischemia or due to reperfusion injury in the case of temporary ischemia. As a result, there has been great interest in using HBO 2 T for the added benefit of its anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic properties. There is reasonable evidence from animal studies, involving mice, rats, gerbils, and cats that damage from focal cerebral ischemia is ameliorated after treatment with HBO 2 T. Several human trials investigating the use of HBO 2 T for ischemic stroke have also been performed.…”

Clinical trials for cytoprotection in stroke

“…Other postulated protective actions include inhibition of neutrophil sequestration 221 and reduction of peri-infarct glucose, glutamate, and pyruvate levels. 222 Although the majority of animal models demonstrate a beneficial effect of HBO on outcome and infarct volume, [223][224][225][226][227] others do not, 228 -230 and controversy prevails regarding the neuroprotective potential of HBO therapy in both clinical and experimental focal ischemia. Increased free radical generation and lipid peroxidation is a theoretical risk of HBO that may counteract neuroprotective mechanisms of action.…”