[Efficiency analysis of hyperbaric oxygen therapy for paroxysmal sympathetic hyperactivity after brain injury: a multicenter retrospective cohort study].

Objective: To investigate the effect of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) on paroxysmal sympathetic hyperexcitation (PSH) after brain injury.

Methods: A multicenter retrospective study was conducted. Fifty-six patients with PSH who received HBO treatment from four hospitals in Henan Province from January 2021 to September 2023 were selected as the HBO group, and 36 patients with PSH who did not receive HBO treatment from Zhengzhou People's Hospital from May 2018 to December 2020 were selected as the control group. PSH assessment measure (PSH-AM) score [clinical feature scale (CFS) score+diagnostic likelihood tool (DLT) score] and Glasgow coma scale (GCS) were compared before and after HBO treatment, and between HBO group and control group to evaluate the effect of HBO treatment on prognosis of PSH patients.

Results: There were no statistically significant differences in age, gender, PSH etiology, GCS score, time from onset to occurrence of PSH, CFS score, CFS+DLT score and frequency of PSH episodes between the two groups, indicating comparability. The duration of HBO treatment ranged from 3 to 11 days for 56 patients receiving HBO treatment, and the duration of HBO treatment ranged from 3 to 5 courses. Compared with before treatment, after HBO treatment, PSH symptoms in HBO patients were significantly relieved (body temperature increase: 14.29% vs. 64.29%, heart rate increase: 25.00% vs. 98.21%, shortness of breath: 14.29% vs. 76.79%, blood pressure increase: 8.93% vs. 85.71%, sweating: 10.71% vs. 85.71%, muscle tone increased: 19.64% vs. 75.00%, all P < 0.05), CFS+DLT score decreased significantly (16.90±4.81 vs. 22.12±3.12, P < 0.01), GCS score improved (12.31±5.34 vs. 5.95±2.18, P < 0.01). After 30 days of hospitalization, compared with the control group, PSH symptoms in the HBO group were improved (body temperature increase: 14.29% vs. 19.44%, heart rate increase: 19.64% vs. 25.00%, shortness of breath: 10.71% vs. 27.78%, blood pressure increase: 7.14% vs. 22.22%, sweating: 8.93% vs. 25.00%, muscle tone increased: 19.64% vs. 38.89%, all P < 0.05 except body temperature increase), CFS+DLT score decreased (16.90±3.81 vs. 19.98±4.89, P < 0.05), GCS score increased (14.12±4.12 vs. 12.31±4.14, P < 0.01), the length of intensive care unit (ICU) stay was shortened (days: 18.01±5.67 vs. 24.93±8.33, P < 0.01).

Conclusions: HBO treatment can significantly relieve the symptoms of patients with PSH after brain injury and provide a new idea for the treatment of PSH patients.