[The intensive therapy of posthypoxic encephalopathy]

A complex of therapeutic measures including hyperbaric oxygenation combined with heparin and endolumbal injection of glucocorticoids, proteolysis inhibitors, was carried out in 49 patients aged 16 to 95 with posthypoxic encephalopathy caused by mechanical asphyxia (11 patients,) carbon monoxide (12 cases), narcotics (18 cases), and closed craniocerebral injury (8 patients). Lipid peroxidation, some parameters of homeostasis, electrolyte, acid-base, and gaseous composition of the blood and liquor were studied before and during treatment. Positive clinical results were attained in 88.6% cases. Multiple-modality treatment of this patient population led to normalization of the coagulation potential of the blood and of the content of fibrinogen, but did not appreciably affect the electrolyte balance, acid-base, and gaseous composition of the blood. The activity of superoxide dismutase normalized, but the concentration of malonic dialdehyde increased, with the levels of dienic conjugates and nonerythrocytic hemoglobin being unchanged; however, the metabolic acidosis in the liquor still persisted.