EFFECTS OF OXYGEN THERAPY ON BRAIN EDEMA DURING ACUTE ISCHEMIC STROKE: A SCOPING REVIEW

Cerebral edema is one of the most severe complications of acute ischemic stroke (AIS), significantly worsening the prognosis for the patient and complicating the recovery of neuronal functions. According to the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Kazakhstan, approximately 40,000 cases of stroke are registered in the country each year, of which about 80% are ischemic strokes. About 60% of stroke survivors become disabled. Five thousand people die within the first 10 days of the illness. Approximately 70% of stroke patients require assistance. Research by authors such as Zheng Ding and Wesley C. Tong in “Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy in Acute Ischemic Stroke: A Review” and Blaise Cozene and Nadia Sadanandan in “An Extra Breath of Fresh Air: Hyperbaric Oxygenation as a Stroke Therapeutic” indicates the positive impact of hyperbaric oxygen therapy on reducing brain edema and decreasing neuronal damage. However, the results of these studies are inconsistent, and there is still no consensus on its effectiveness and optimal application protocols. Objective of the Study The aim of this study is to analyze the existing data on the impact of oxygen therapy on brain edema in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) based on literature sources. The following tasks need to be addressed: 1) to study current views on the mechanisms of brain edema formation in AIS; 2) to analyze the effectiveness of hyperbaric oxygen therapy as a treatment method. Methods The research method is a review of the existing literature dedicated to the impact of oxygen therapy on brain edema in acute ischemic stroke. This involved an analysis of scientific publications, including articles in medical journals, monographs, and reports on clinical studies available in international and domestic databases. Results The results of the literature review indicate that the use of oxygen therapy, especially hyperbaric oxygen therapy, demonstrates potential in reducing brain edema in patients with acute ischemic stroke. Conclusions The results of the study suggest that while oxygen therapy, particularly hyperbaric oxygen therapy, can indeed reduce the volume of edema and decrease neuronal damage, the results remain contradictory. The main differences in the data may be associated with variations in methodologies, the timing of therapy initiation, and patient characteristics.