Hyperbaric oxygen in exceptional acute blood-loss anemia.

Abstract

Intermittent exposures to hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) were used in treating 26 patients (20 females, 6 males; average age 42.5 yr +/- 21) with exceptional blood-loss anemia; 18 (69%) survived. Six of the patients who died arrived for treatment in a decerebrate or decorticate neurologic state. The admitting hematocrits (Hct) and hemoglobins (Hb) were higher in the survivors (Hct 13.6%, HB 4.7 g/dl) than in those who died (Hct 10.5%, Hb 3.8 g/dl). HBO was discontinued in the survivors when they no longer suffered from hypoxic sprue, postural hypotension, and usually when the Hct was 22% or greater and the Hb was 7 g/dl or greater. We conclude that HBO may be useful in the treatment of acute blood-loss anemia when applied early.