Noteboom The Law Firm

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Possible TBI Treatment

March 19, 2010 - Veterans suffering from traumatic brain injuries (TBI) may have new hope for new treatment. A pilot study found positive results using hyperbaric oxygen therapy to treat TBI. These results have lead to a national trial for the therapy being launched in the next couple of weeks.

In charge of the study was Dr. Paul Harch, a clinical associate professor with the LSU Interim Public Hospital in New Orleans. Dr. Harch has treated almost 40 veterans with this therapy. Hyperbaric therapy was originally designed to treat deep-sea divers afflicted with brain decompression illness and uses oxygen at greater pressures than the atmosphere in enclosed chambers.

80% of the veterans that have received this treatment have been able to return to a fairly normal life, which means returning to work, school, and even military duty. Dr. Harch's studies have found:  

• 15-point increases in IQ in less than a month;
• Reduction in depression;
• Improvements in headaches;
• Improvements in sleep disturbances; and
• Big improvements in PTSD.

 Dr. Harch makes claims of 90-99% positive response rates and there are no side effects. He goes on to say the treatment can even be performed years after the traumatic brain injury initially occurred.

The national study will include up to 1,000 veterans suffering from mild to moderate TBI and the treatment will be administered at 15 sites across the United States. Participants will be treated over the course of 5 months and will include 80 treatments.