The Clinical Effect of Postoperative Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy on Idiopathic Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus: A Retrospective and Comparative Analysis of 61 Patients with Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to examine the clinical effect of postoperative hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) therapy on symptoms and signs in the ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt insertion treatment of idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (iNPH).

METHODS: We conducted a retrospective analysis of 61 patients treated at our institution for iNPH since 2007. Patients were stratified into 2 groups according to undergoing pure VP shunt with gravitational valves (group 1) or combined with postoperative HBO therapy (group 2). Clinical improvements as well as complications were compared between the 2 groups.

RESULTS: There was no significant difference between the 2 groups regarding age, sexual proportion, body mass index, education years, and the average Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus Scale score before the surgery, as well as the complication rate after the surgery (P > 0.05). On average, the total Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus Scale scores were both increased in the 2 groups at 1, 3, and 6 months after shunting, with no significant differences (P > 0.05). However, group 2 tended to increase more compared with group 1, especially 6 months later after shunting. The increase of cognitive functions was more significant in group 2 (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS: HBO therapy combined with VP shunt is expected to improve the effect of iNPH treatment, especially for cognitive performance.