The life-saving effect of hyperbaric oxygenation during early-phase severe blunt chest injuries

G. G. Rogatsky, A. Mayevsky

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

7 Scopus citations

Abstract

The effect of hyperbaric oxygenation (HBO2) on survival during the early phase of severe blunt chest injury (BChI) has not been elucidated. Our aim was to investigate this effect on human victims of BChI. We monitored cardiac index (CI), stroke volume index (SVI), PaO2 and PaO 2/FiO2 in 18 victims treated conventionally, and 8 victims treated under combined conventional and HBO2 treatment. Out of the 18 victims, 4 survived (Group A) and 14 died (Group B). Another 8 victims, in Group C, received HBO2and all survived. Human victims showed marked reductions in all cardiorespiratory values during the first 24 h. Group B persistently tended towards a decrease in SVI, PaO2/FiO2 and PaO2, eventually reaching fatal levels. The survivors developed a cardiorespiratory function characterized by a tendency towards recovery of all monitored parameters, more notable in Group C, which showed an earlier and more significant normalization vs. Group A (P<0.01). Our clinical data suggest that the earliest possible HBO2 treatment after severe blunt trauma can significantly enhance victims' survival.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)75-81
Number of pages7
JournalUndersea and Hyperbaric Medicine
Volume34
Issue number2
StatePublished - Mar 2007

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