Hyperbaric Oxygen in the Reduction of Post Stroke Ischemic Penumbra
Description:
Most patients who suffer an acute ischemic stroke improve over the immediately ensuing 30-90
days. However, many patients do not improve beyond this initial period in spite of continued
intensive physical therapy and supportive care. A prospective, randomized trial of the use of
hyperbaric oxygen treatments in 59 such patients was published in January 2012. That study
which used 40 hyperbaric oxygen treatments, indicated significant clinical neurological
improvement in residual motor deficit in patients who had sustained a stroke over a year
previously. An increase in brain activity in the region immediately surrounding their stroke
(penumbra) was reported on the basis of SPECT studies. Regions of live cells were determined
by CT. Because SPECT is primarily a measure of perfusion and not metabolic activity and CT is
a poor measure of cell life, the investigators plan to assess areas of physiologic/anatomic
mismatch in similar patients following hyperbaric oxygen treatment by the use of the more
appropriate and precise tools, PET and MRI.
Condition:
Ischemic Cerebrovascular Accident
Treatment:
hyperbaric oxygen chamber
Start Date:
November 21, 2013
Sponsor:
John Davidson
For More Information:
https://clinicaltrials.gov/show/NCT01985100