[Should patients with acute stroke routinely receive supplemental oxygen?].
BACKGROUND
Supplemental oxygen is often given routinely to all patients suffering from an acute stroke, although clinical evidence for its efficacy is not available. The object of this study was to study the impact on mortality, impairment and disability of supplemental oxygen given the first 24 hours after an acute stroke.


METHODS
Patients admitted to hospital with acute stroke were randomly allocated to two groups: one group received supplemental oxygen (100% atmospheres, 3 litres/minute) for 24 hours (n = 292); whereas a control group did not receive additional oxygen (n = 258).


RESULTS
One-year survival was 69% in the oxygen group and 73% in the control group (odds ratio 0.82; 95% CI 0.57-1.19; p = 0.30). Impairment scores and disability scores were comparable seven months after stroke. Among patients with Scandinavian Stroke Scale (SSS) > or = 40.82% in the oxygen group and 91% in the control group survived (odds ratio 0.45; 95% CI 0.23-0.90; p = 0.02). For patients with SSS < 40, 53% in the oxygen group and 48% in the control group survived (odds ratio 1.26; 95% CI 0.76-2.09; p = 0.54).


CONCLUSIONS
The study indicates that supplemental oxygen should not be given routinely to non-hypoxic stroke victims with minor or moderate strokes. Further research is needed for giving conclusive advice concerning oxygen supplementation for patients with severe strokes.
Rønning
O M
OM
Nevrologisk avdeling Sentralsykehuset i Akershus 1474 Nordbyhagen. omro@online.no
Guldvog
B
B
D000208:Acute Disease; D000368:Aged; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009664:Norway / Q000453:epidemiology; D010102:Oxygen Inhalation Therapy; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D020521:Stroke / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D015996:Survival Rate