Traumatic Brain Injury

On 16 DEC a briefing was held by former Secretary of the Army Martin Hoffman in Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy in the treatment of brain injuries. During the presentation, Sec. Hoffman highlighted the need for additional funding and research into the treatment of the numerous traumatic brain injuries (TBI) from Iraq and Afghanistan by Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT 1.5).  The 1.5 in the acronym represents the treatment atmospheric pressure of 1.5 atmospheres. Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy is a well-tested option in treating at least 13 other medical conditions.  A very small sample of around 30 Iraq/Afghanistan casualties have been very successfully treated using this method.  Additionally there are other civilian studies that support this treatment method.  On 12 JUL, the House of Representatives unanimously passed legislation authored by Congressman Pete Sessions (TX-32) to recognize and report the results and planned expansion of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy in Veterans Affairs medical facilities. As an amendment to the Fiscal Year 2010 Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Act (H.R.3082), Sessions' legislation requires the VA to submit a report to Congress detailing the current and planned use of the Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy in VA medical facilities, including the number of veterans and types of conditions being treated with HBOT, their respective success rates, and the current inventory of hyperbaric chambers.  Over a year ago DoD announced a clinical trial for HBOT 1.5, but no progress has been made due to lack of resources to design the test and begin testing patients. If the preliminary results of a very tiny test can be duplicated for the larger number of wounded warriors who have been diagnosed with TBI, this needs to be proven as soon as possible in order that our troops can be given the very best treatment. [Source: NAUS Weekly]