A research group at Tokyo Dental University and Keio University performed 2% hydrogen-added oxygen inhalation (hydrogen inhalation therapy) in a state in which cardiac arrest occurred outside the hospital and the heart beat recovered with cardiopulmonary resuscitation, but consciousness did not recover. , decreased the mortality rate and increased the chances of regaining consciousness and reintegrating into society without sequelae.
In the event of cardiac arrest due to heart trouble, if the heartbeat is restored by emergency resuscitation, the blood will start to circulate, but if blood and oxygen are suddenly supplied to the organs, extremely strong damage will be added (cardiac resuscitation). post-cessation syndrome).If the brain is damaged, consciousness cannot be recovered, or recovery is left with severe neurological sequelae.Temperature control therapy is the only treatment that relieves post-cardiac arrest syndrome, but it is not a definitive treatment because its effectiveness is questionable.
A research group has reported in animal experiments that hydrogen gas inhalation after cardiac arrest reduces mortality and brain damage, but its effects on humans are unknown.In this study, we conducted a double-blind, randomized controlled trial to determine whether inhalation of 2% hydrogenated oxygen in addition to temperature control therapy in patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest improved mortality and neurological sequelae. It was investigated.
Unfortunately, due to the urgent need for emergency medical care due to the novel coronavirus infection, the study was discontinued when the number of target patients was 73 (39 in the hydrogen group and 34 in the control group), so the effectiveness of hydrogen inhalation therapy cannot be determined. I didn't.However, after 90 days, 21% of the control group were free of symptoms and disability, while 46% of the hydrogen group remained alive. The survival rate also increased from 61% to 85%, a statistically significant difference .Also, no clear side effects were observed with hydrogen inhalation.
In the future, hydrogen gas inhalation therapy can be expected to be an epoch-making treatment method that restores the consciousness of patients who have fallen into postcardiac arrest syndrome and does not cause neurological sequelae.
