Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy as a Neuroprotective Intervention in Pediatric Acquired Brain Injury With Cognitive Disability

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy as a Neuroprotective Intervention in Pediatric Acquired Brain Injury With Cognitive Disability

This research aimed to investigate the effectiveness of hyperbaric oxygen therapy as a neuroprotective strategy for improving neurological outcomes in pediatric patients who have sustained acquired brain injury.

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) is a medical treatment that delivers high-concentration oxygen in a pressurized chamber. It was developed initially from diving physiology research and popularized by Dutch surgeon Boerema for its life-sustaining plasma oxygen diffusion under hyperbaric conditions.

The fundamental mechanism of HBOT operates through Henry's Law, enabling unprecedented increases in tissue oxygen partial pressures that surpass levels achievable in normal atmospheric conditions.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Pediatric patients aged 4-12 years with acquired brain injury.
• Confirmed neurological sequelae (e.g., cardiac arrest, intracranial hemorrhage, central nervous system infections, stroke, tumor, hypoxia) via MRI/neurological exam.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Positive family history of degenerative brain insults.

• Behavioral problems.

• Hyperbaric oxygen therapy contraindications:

  • Active epilepsy.
  • Respiratory insufficiency.
  • Uncontrolled heart failure.
  • Eustachian tube dysfunction.
  • Tympanic membrane rupture.
  • Mechanical ventilation dependency.