To assess the efficacy of hyperbaric oxygenation for patients with persistent vegetative state and to clarify its therapeutic mechanism.
Methods:8 patients with persistent vegetative state(PVS) (resulted from head injury 4, cerebral hemorrhage 2, cerebral infarction 1 and after surgery for meningioma 1) were treated with hyperbaric oxygenation(HBO) combined with conventional therapy in the years 1994-1995. The HBO pressure used was 0.2 MPa and the patients breathed pure oxygen for 80 min(with a 10 min break) once a day and 10 times a course. In this set of patients, the times of HBO treatment varied from 20 to 86.
Results:All 8 patients resumed consciousness after the HBO combined treatment.
Conclusion:HBO has remarkable therapeutic effect on patient with persistent, vegetative state. In case of long-term HBO therapy(over 40 times), it should have a break of a reasonable length of time and at the same time good nutrition is needed.