High Dose Oxygen Therapy for Cerebral Palsy and the Brain Injured Child (Documentation via SPECT Imaging)

Observations on blood fl ow and metabolism in brain damaged children responding to hyperbaric oxygenation and the world wide clinical findings of its benefit. Purpose The purpose of this presentation is to document the positive clinical changes that are associated with the use of hyperbaric oxygenation in children with cerebral palsy and brain injuries. Summary Cerebral Palsy is a term that encompasses many etiological factors in children diagnosed in utero to age fourteen. Problems may present in utero, perinatal , and post-natal. Infections, traumatic brain injury, near-drowning, and strokes in children suffering from neurological problems come under the heading of Cerebral Palsy. Hyperbaric oxygenation not only relieves hypoxia but also jumpstarts the brain to much better organization and function. In the very young, it produces a better internal milieu for the growth of new brain tissue. Compelling studies around the world were presented at conferences in Boca Raton, Florida in July of 1999 and 2001. 1 This is well known therapy for the neonates in China, 2 Russia,3 and South America. 4 In certain of these areas, hypoxic or neurologic involved infants are taken from the delivery room to the hyperbaric chamber. The clinical effects are remarkable. In the following paper we will suggest a specific protocol, present three case reports showing functional brain changes that occur in cerebral palsy patients with the use of hyperbaric oxygenation. Although no double blind controlled studies have been published, functional brain imaging before and after hyperbaric oxygenation, with this close clinical parallel, yields substantial documentation. Case reports showing dramatic improvement in functional brain imaging paralleling clinical improvement will be presented as part of this paper. These are representative of the 228 patients that have now been treated at the Ocean Hyperbaric Center.