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A Preclinical Model of Exertional Heat Stroke in Mice
Published on: July 1, 2021
A hyperbaric oxygen therapy approach to heat stroke with multiple organ dysfunction.
Ko-Chi Niu1, Chen-Kuei Chang, Mao-Tsun Lin
1Department of Biotechnology, Southern Taiwan University, Department of Hyperbaric Oxygen, Chi Mei Medical Center, Tainan, Taiwan, Republic of China.
The Chinese Journal of Physiology
|September 26, 2009
Summary
This case study shows hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) successfully treated a heat stroke patient with multiple organ dysfunction and a hypercoagulable state. HBOT proved vital when conventional treatments failed, rescuing the patient from death.
Area of Science:
- Emergency Medicine
- Hyperbaric Medicine
- Toxicology
Background:
- Heat stroke is a life-threatening condition characterized by hyperpyrexia and central nervous system dysfunction.
- Multiple organ dysfunction and hypercoagulable states complicate heat stroke, often resisting standard treatments.
Observation:
- A 49-year-old male laborer presented with severe heat stroke, including hyperpyrexia, seizures, coma, and hypotension.
- The patient exhibited multiple organ dysfunction (rhabdomyolysis, hepatic, renal, respiratory, cerebral) and disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC).
- Conventional cooling and antipyretic therapies were ineffective in managing the patient's critical condition.
Findings:
- Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) was administered due to treatment resistance.
- HBOT successfully resolved hyperpyrexia, multiple organ dysfunction, and the hypercoagulable state (DIC).
- The patient was rescued from heat stroke-induced death, demonstrating significant recovery.
Implications:
- This case suggests HBOT is a potentially life-saving intervention for severe heat stroke with multiple organ dysfunction.
- HBOT may offer a viable treatment option for refractory heat stroke cases, particularly those with hypercoagulable states.
- Further research into HBOT's role in heat stroke management is warranted.
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