This trial focused on the acute, intensive-care-unit phase of severe traumatic brain injury — a very different population from chronic TBI. Even in this critically ill cohort, HBOT at 1.5 ATA reduced mortality and improved markers of brain metabolism. The protocol was deliberately conservative: 1.5 ATA, applied once daily. The fact that even this gentle protocol moved the needle in severe TBI is one reason 1.5 ATA has emerged as a safe, well-tolerated default for both clinical and home use.
RCT
2013
From the library
A prospective, randomized Phase II clinical trial to evaluate the effect of combined hyperbaric and normobaric hyperoxia on cerebral metabolism, intracranial pressure, oxygen toxicity, and clinical outcome in severe traumatic brain injury
Rockswold SB, Rockswold GL, Zaun DA, Liu J
Journal of Neurosurgery n = 42 1.5 ATA 6 sessions
Plain English
This trial focused on the acute, intensive-care-unit phase of severe traumatic brain injury — a very different population from chronic TBI. Even in this critically ill cohort, HBOT at 1.5 ATA reduced mortality and improved markers of brain metabolism. The protocol was deliberately conservative: 1.5 ATA, applied once daily. The fact that even this gentle protocol moved the needle in severe TBI is one reason 1.5 ATA has emerged as a safe, well-tolerated default for both clinical and home use.
Key findings
What the trial documented.
- HBOT reduced mortality and improved outcomes in severe TBI
- Improved cerebral metabolism on microdialysis monitoring
- No oxygen toxicity at the protocol used
Protocol used
1.5 ATA, 100% oxygen, 60-minute sessions, every 24 hours for up to 6 sessions
Full citation
Rockswold SB, Rockswold GL, Zaun DA, Liu J. A prospective, randomized Phase II clinical trial to evaluate the effect of combined hyperbaric and normobaric hyperoxia on cerebral metabolism, intracranial pressure, oxygen toxicity, and clinical outcome in severe traumatic brain injury. Journal of Neurosurgery. 2013.