Wang F, Wang Y, Sun T, Yu HL.

Compelling evidence suggests the advantage of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) in
traumatic brain injury. The present meta-analysis evaluated the outcomes of HBOT
in patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI). Prospective studies comparing
hyperbaric oxygen therapy vs. control in patients with mild (GCS 13-15) to severe
(GCS 3-8) TBI were hand-searched from medical databases using the terms
“hyperbaric oxygen therapy, traumatic brain injury, and post-concussion
syndrome”. Glasgow coma scale (GCS) was the primary outcome, while Glasgow
outcome score (GOS), overall mortality, and changes in post-traumatic stress
disorder (PTSD) score, constituted the secondary outcomes. The results of eight
studies (average age of patients, 23-41 years) reveal a higher post-treatment GCS
score in the HBOT group (pooled difference in means = 3.13, 95 % CI 2.34-3.92,
P < 0.001), in addition to greater improvement in GOS and lower mortality, as
compared to the control group. However, no significant change in the PTSD score
was observed. Patients undergoing hyperbaric therapy achieved significant
improvement in the GCS and GOS with a lower overall mortality, suggesting its
utility as a standard intensive care regimen in traumatic brain injury.