BMJ  2006;333 (19 August), doi:10.1136/bmj.333.7564.0-a

Hyperbaric oxygen may help neonatal hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy

Hyperbaric oxygen, a treatment frequently used in China, may reduce mortality and neurological sequelae in neonates with hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy. For this systematic review, Liu and colleagues (p 374) searched Western and Chinese databases and identified 20 Chinese trials comparing hyperbaric oxygen treatment with "usual care" for the severe neonatal condition. Hyperbaric oxygen produced better outcomes in most trials, but reporting of methods was poor by Western (CONSORT) standards. A good randomised controlled trial is needed to investigate the findings, conclude the authors.

Credit: CHINA PHOTOS/GETTY IMAGES

CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    What's this?

Relevant Article

Clinical effectiveness of treatment with hyperbaric oxygen for neonatal hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy: systematic review of Chinese literature

Zulian Liu, Tengbin Xiong, and Catherine Meads
BMJ 2006 333: 374. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]