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Nevertheless, both studies were of sufficient clinical and epidemiological similarity to
attempt statistical pooling. Unfortunately, neither study examined the same outcomes in
the same way, and individual data points are not given with which to manipulate
statistically the effect measures for transformation on a common scale. Therefore, the
review did not attempt a pooled estimate of treatment effect. Instead a brief description
of results of the two studies follows.
Review of published clinical experience
Nighoghossian et al79 assessed functional outcome at six and 12 months using three
scales: the Orgogozo, 81 Rankin disability, 82 and Trouillas scales. The latter was developed
specifically for this study. The Orgogozo scale was a 100-point quantitative scale with a
score of 100 as normal. It was the only scale used to measure baseline values. In the
Rankin and Trouillas scales, a score of zero was considered normal.
The authors found statistically significant differences between the intervention and
comparison groups at 1 year based on the Orgogozo and Trouillas scores (Table 45).
However, pre- and post-therapeutic differences were not statistically apparent on all
scales.
Table 45 Functional neurologic scores in intervention and comparison groups with cerebrovascular
disease according to follow-up (Nighoghossian et al). 79
Mean Score Treatment Difference
Scale and Time of
Examination Intervention Group Comparison
Group
Orgogozo
Baseline
6 months
12 months
Trouillas
6 months
12 months
Rankin
6 months
12 months
42.5 (5.1) †
72.9 (6.6)
78.2 (6.4)
4.6 (0.5)
4.1 (0.6)
2.6 (0.2)
2.4 (0.2)
* Baseline comparisons were made for the Orgogozo scale only.
† Figures in parentheses are standard errors.
31.5 (5.3)
54.7 (5.3)
50.3 (8.7)
6.1 (0.7
6.3 (0.7)
3.2 (0.3)
3.0 (0.3)
Intervention less
Comparison
11.0 (7.4)
18.2 (10.6)
27.9 (10.8)
–1.5 (0.9)
–2.2 (1.0)
–0.6 (0.4)
–0.6 (0.4)
Anderson et al 80 used a graded neurological examination scale that was sensitive to
deficits referable to the region of the brain perfused by branches of the internal carotid
artery. 83 A score of 100 was considered normal. Examinations were administered on
enrolment, at five days, six weeks, four months (the primary outcome of interest), and
one year.
The authors report that comparison therapy patients improved by (Mean ± SEM) 15.9 ±
3.2 points (p < 0.0003) while the intervention group experiences an improvement in
scores by 12.2 ± 4.8 points (p < 0.03). Due to the trend of better improvement in the
comparison group compared to the HBO-exposed group, the study was suspended for
ethical reasons.
48 Hyperbaric oxygen therapy
p
0.15
0.10
0.02
0.19
0.03
0.13
0.11