title: Hyperbaric oxygen is effective in early stage of healing of experimental brain abscess in rats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Current therapy of brain abscess (BA) includes a combined approach that involves antibiotics and minimal invasive surgery, but also hyperbaric oxygen treatment (HBOT) as a supportive measure. Optimum treatment is still a matter of significant controversy.
  
  
  METHODS
  The experiment, previously approved by a relevant ethical committee, involved 80 female Wistar rats. BA was experimentally induced by inoculation of Staphylococcus aureus. The animals were randomized into groups and treated either with antibiotics, HBOT, or with a combination of both.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Beneficial effect of HBOT was evident in groups treated with HBOT or with a combination of antibiotic+HBOT. It was mainly manifested on days three and five of the experiment and was evident as statistically significant increase of a number of newly formed blood vessels, increase in mean vascular density, and smaller abscess necrotic core.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although the results of the present study should be interpreted cautiously, they suggest that HBOT has an important but limited role in the treatment of BA.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University Hospital Center Split, Croatia. ibilic@kbsplit.hr
authors.forename: Ivica
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Bilic
authors.forename: Nadan M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Petri
authors.forename: Mira
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Krstulja
authors.forename: Meri
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vuckovic
authors.forename: Ilza
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Salamunic
authors.forename: Katarina Sisko
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Kraljevic
authors.forename: Vesna
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Capkun
authors.forename: Ivo
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Lusic
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001922:Brain Abscess / Q000382:microbiology / Q000628:therapy*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D006931:Hyperbaric Oxygenation / Q000379:methods*; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000378:metabolism / Q000628:therapy*; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000502:physiology*