Acute & Chronic Treatment of Traumatic Brain Injury and Coma

19 year old male; college freshman. Ejected from motor vehicle at 65 mph in 1991 (First HBOT began 19 hours post accident).

Impacted left frontal/parietal skull region.

• Within 1/2 hour Glascow coma scale was 6-7, ventilator dependent.
• CT revealed diffuse edema, midline shift, petechial hemorrhages, subarachnoid hemorrhage, small subdural hematoma, basilar skull fracture.

First scan: SPECT image 1 month after accident shows significant injury to left frontal area and contra coup injury to right parietal/occipital with luxury perfusion.

• Scan shows very large defects in brain flood flow.

After initial treatments patient became conversant & independently ambulatory with slight spasticity.

Within 8 weeks of accident patient went from ventilator to walking and talking.

Second scan: 1 year later after 188 HBOT treatments.

• Improved perfusion in ischemic penumbral areas of right-sided lesions.
• Noticeable improvement in cognition (40% gain written computation math).
• Patient verbalized insight to condition and that he could no longer aspire to be a surgeon.
• Balance and gait improvement from 3-wheel trike to 2-wheel bike.

Treatments discontinued when patient enrolled in remedial college courses.

Patient referred to as "Lazarus" by his doctor.

In Jan. 2001, 12 years post injury, patient called physician to tell him of second promotion at the bank. Patient active, functional, and employed.

Current cost of 188 HBOT treatments at $150-$200 each: $28,200-$37,600

• Note: treatment during immediate acute phase of injury could cost more.