The Use of Hyperbaric Oxygenation Therapy to Change Cerebral Metabolism Rates in Patients with Chronic Brain Damage

• Main Author: Collins, Michael J.
• Format: Others
• Published: NSUWorks 2009
• Subjects: cerebral palsy; cerebral vascular accident; cognitive reserve; hyperbaric oxygenation; Psychology
• Online Access: http://nsuworks.nova.edu/cps_stuetd/20; http://nsuworks.nova.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1019&context=cps_stuetd

Hyperbaric Oxygenation Therapy (HBOT) has a successive history for treating very specific groups of physical conditions. Research by Neubauer and colleagues states that HBOT's ability to increase cerebral metabolism in the brain regenerates dormant neural tissue (Neubauer, Gottlieb, & Pevsner 1994). According to this research, the increase of cerebral metabolism levels restores mental capacity from the neurological insult. Despite promise, uncertainty exists as to whether this is a viable treatment option for people suffering from neural damage. The research results for this experiment will examine the effect of HBOT on cerebral metabolism levels in adults and pediatrics with chronic neurological problems. Fifty individuals diagnosed as having a neurological impairment whom met criteria for the study were analyzed from an archival data set. Criterion required chronic impairment, baseline SPECT, followed by HBOT exposures, and a post SPECT scan. Statistical analyses consisted of a Pearson correlation that examined pre-metabolism rates with total change, a Pearson correlation that examined total change and number of treatments, and a one way ANOVA analysis that examined cerebral metabolism change in patients under 18 and over 18. Results indicated change