Background Normobaric oxygen (NBO) has received considerable attention due to controversial data in brain protection in patients with acute stroke. This study aims to analyze current data of NBO on brain protection as used in the clinic. Methods We searched for and reviewed relevant articles and references from Pubmed, Medline, Embase, Cochrane, and Clincialtrials.gov that were published prior to October 2017. Data from prospective studies were processed using RevMan5.0 software, provided by Cochrane collaboration and transformed using relevant formulas. Results A total of 11 prospective RCT studies including 6366 patients with acute stroke (NBO group, 3207; control group, 3159) were enrolled in this analysis. △NIHSS represented the values of NIHSS at 4, 24 h, or 7 days post-stroke minus baseline NIHSS. Compared to controls, there was a minor trend toward NBO benefits in short-term prognostic indices, as indicated by decreased ΔNIHSS at our defined time points. By contrast, NBO decreased Barthel Index scores between 3 and 7 months, and increased death rates at 3, 6 months, and 1 year, whereas, modified Rankin Scale scores between 3 and 6 months were unchanged. Conclusions The existing trends toward benefits revealed in this meta-analysis help us appreciate the promising value of NBO, although current evidence of NBO on improving clinical outcomes of stroke is insufficient. Well-designed multi-center clinical trials are encouraged and urgently needed to further explore the efficacy of NBO on brain protection.
Keywords: ADC: Apparent diffusion coefficient; BBB:Blood–brain barrier; BI scores: Barthel Index scores; CBV: Cerebral blood volume; DSMB: Data and Safety Monitoring Board; DWI: Diffusion weighted imaging; FiO2: Fraction of inspiration O2; HBO: Hyperbaric oxygen; IQR: Interquartile range; M: Median; MD: Mean difference; MTT: Mean transit time; NBO: Normobaric oxygen; NC: Controlled sample size; NE: Experimental sample size; NIHSS: National Institute of Health Stroke Scale; NO: Nitric oxide; Oxygen inhalation therapy; PtO2: Tissue oxygen tension; RCTs: Randomized controlled trials; ROS: Reactive oxygen species; RR: Relative risk; SD: Standard deviation; SSS: Scandinavian stroke scores; eNOS: Endothelial nitric oxide synthase; iNBO: Intermittent normobaric hyperoxia; mRS scores: Modified Rankin Scale scores; meta-analysis; normobaric oxygen; pNBO: persistent normobaric hyperoxia; stroke.