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June 16, 2016

A multidisciplinary team at Vancouver General Hospital (VGH) will be the first in North America to see whether hyperbaric oxygen could help improve neurological function in patients recovering from stroke.

Exciting study needs stroke clients

Dr. David Harrison, medical manager of the Hyperbaric Unit at VGH, a VCH Research Institute researcher, and the study’s lead investigator, says “Since strokes are very complex, we will be measuring several primary and secondary outcomes in our study – including neurological function, daily living activities, quality of life scores, depression and cognition.”

Are your clients eligible to participate?

We need 130 more participants to take part in the study. Participants will receive a series of 40 treatments in the hyperbaric oxygen chamber at VGH. Study participants will receive one of two treatments: each with a different environment pressure and oxygen level.
If you have any clients or patients, please inform them about this study. Participants can be from anywhere in B.C. – they do not have to live in the VCH area.

Patients/clients are be eligible if they:

  • are between the ages 19 and 85 years old
  • have had a stroke involving the cerebral hemispheres
  • the stroke occurred during the past 6 to 36 months

What is hyperbaric oxygen therapy?

Hyperbaric oxygen treatment involves breathing 100% oxygen at increased pressures inside an airtight, cylindrical steel chamber. This allows oxygen to be dissolved into the bloodstream and carried to the organs.

The first results of the study are expected in December 2018.

Learn more

To learn more about this study, visit: http://www.vchri.ca/clinical-trials/hyperbaric-oxygen-post-established-stroke-hopes.

Have your clients/patients contact Janice Andrade at 604.875.4111 ext. 68469 or email janice.andrade4@vch.ca.

For more information contact: Janice Andrade, Research coordinator, Hyperbaric Unit, Vancouver General Hospital