HYPERBARIC OXYGEN IN CRAO – OUR EXPERIENCE

Resumo

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE

To report the visual outcomes of non-arteritic CRAO (NA-CRAO) patients submitted to hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) in our hospital.

METHODS

Retrospective anaylsis of patients with CRAO submitted to HBOT between 2010 and 2017. Only patients with non-transient NA-CRAO, absence of a patent cilioretinal artery and less of 24 hours of evolution were included. All patients were submitted to sessions of 90 minutes lenght with 100% oxygen at 2,4atm. Primary outcome was visual acuity change (logMar) pre and post treatment. Adverse effects from the treatment were registered.

RESULTS

Overall fourteen patients met the inclusion criteria, 57% males (n=8) and 43% females (n=6), with a median age of 68 years (min.41; max.92). VA at baseline was count-fingers (CF) or worse in 85,7% (n=12) of the patients. The median time between the symptoms onset and the beginning of the treatment was 7.0 hours (min.2; max.24h).

The baseline and post treatment best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) were 2,34±1,16 and 1,39±0,94 logMar respectively, which was statistical significant (p=0,007). VA gain was greater than 0.3 logMar in 71,4% of the patients.

No serious adverse effects from HBOT were registered. One patient experienced mild ear barotrauma.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with NA-CRAO experienced VA improvement after HBOT, although with important limitations. The implementation of strategies to reduce the time between the onset of symptoms and treatment could result in a higher functional gain.