A Cochrane review [Abstract] 1 included 7 studies on adjunctive hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) for treating traumatic brain injury, with a total of 571 subjects. The results of two studies indicated use of HBOT results in a statistically significant decrease in the proportion of people with an unfavourable outcome one month after treatment using the Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS) (RR for unfavourable outcome with HBOT 0.74, 95% CI 0.61 to 0.88, P = 0.001). Pooled data from final follow-up showed a significant reduction in the risk of dying when HBOT was used (RR 0.69, 95% CI 0.54 to 0.88, P = 0.003, NNT 7, 95% CI 4 to 22). Two small trials reported a significant improvement in Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) for patients treated with HBOT (MD 2.68 points, 95% CI 1.84 to 3.52, P < 0.0001).
Comment: The quality of evidence is downgraded by imprecise results (limited study size for each comparison) and by limitations in study quality.
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