Hypoxic-anoxic injuries result when there is a partial or a total lack of oxygen supplied to the brain. This low-oxygen supply may produce cognitive, physical, and emotional impairments. Oxygen is necessary to metabolize glucose, and both are involved in the production of vital brain neurotransmitters which regulate the brain's many complex functions. If oxygen is not available, a cascade of problems occurs.

 

Types of hypoxic-anoxic injuries (HAI):

 

• Anoxic anoxia: low oxygen content in respired air

• Anemic anoxia: not enough blood to carry oxygen throughout the body, caused

  by: acute hemorrhage, chronic anemia, carbon monoxide poisoning

• Hypoxic-ischemic injury (HII): not enough blood flow to the brain; localized

  (stroke) or diffuse

    (circulatory collapse caused by cardiac problems (heart attack)

 

Symptoms of Hypoxic-Anoxic Brain Injury (HAI):

 

• Short-term memory loss.

• Reasoning, judgment, and/or initiation difficulty
• Speech difficulties
• Visual disturbances or cortical blindness

• Ataxia (incoordination)

• Apraxia (inability to follow a sequence of commands)
• Spasticity, rigidity, myoclonus, abnormal movements
• Paresis/quadriparesis (weakness in one/all extremities)

• Paralysis

• Coma or persistent vegetative state

 

Hyperbaric oxygen for acute hypoxic-anoxic injury (HAI):

 

·     Provides oxygen to brain tissues even in absence of red blood cells; boosts immune system response

·     Relieves brain edema (swelling)

·     Mitigates the “cascade effect”

·     Helps restore the blood-brain barrier

·     Inhibits reperfusion injury

·     Prevents injury to DNA

 

Hyperbaric oxygen as an adjunct therapy for chronic HAI:

               

·     Reduces edema even years after injury

·     Energizes cells surrounding the ischemia

·     Promotes capillary (blood vessel) growth

·     Promotes normal molecular-level chemical reactions necessary for brain function

                                                                                                                                               

Patients/caregivers have reported:                       

 

·     Decreased spasticity

·     Increased concentration

·     Improved vision and speech

·     Improved bowel/bladder function

·     Increased mobility and stamina

·     Increased awareness

 

 

Suggested treatment schedule:

 

One to two daily treatments, five days/week for a total of 40-60 treatments as the base therapy, with booster sessions as needed. May require long-term approach and multiple sessions.  Individual responses vary.