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Hyperbaric oxygen therapy attenuates central sensitization induced by a thermal injury in humans
Author(s) -
RASMUSSEN V. M.,
BORGEN A. E.,
JANSEN E. C.,
ROTBØLL NIELSEN P. H.,
WERNER M. U.
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
acta anaesthesiologica scandinavica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.738
H-Index - 107
eISSN - 1399-6576
pISSN - 0001-5172
DOI - 10.1111/aas.12492
Subject(s) - medicine , hyperbaric oxygen , anesthesia , central sensitization , sensitization , quantitative sensory testing , crossover study , nociception , sensory system , pathology , neuroscience , placebo , receptor , alternative medicine , biology , immunology
Background Hyperbaric oxygen ( HBO 2 ) treatment has in animal experiments demonstrated antinociceptive effects. It was hypothesized that these effects would attenuate secondary hyperalgesia areas ( SHA s), an expression of central sensitization, after a first‐degree thermal injury in humans. Methods Seventeen healthy volunteers were examined during two sessions using a randomized crossover design. Volunteers were studied during control conditions (ambient pressure, F I O 2 = 0.21) and during HBO 2 (2.4 standard atmosphere, F I O 2 = 1.0, 90 min) conditions in a pressure chamber. Quantitative sensory testing, including assessment of SHA s was performed. Results A statistically significant overall attenuation of SHA s was seen during the HBO 2 sessions compared with the control‐sessions ( P = 0.011). In the eight volunteers starting with the HBO 2 session, no difference in SHA s compared with control was demonstrated. However, in the nine volunteers starting with the control session, a statistical significant attenuation of SHA s was demonstrated in the HBO 2 session ( P = 0.004). Conclusions The results indicate that HBO 2 therapy in humans attenuates central sensitization induced by a thermal skin injury, compared with control. These new and original findings in humans corroborate animal experimental data. The thermal injury model may give impetus to future human neurophysiological studies exploring the central effects of hyperbaric oxygen treatment.