Intervention of hyperbaric oxygen for infant with neonatal Jaundice associated with abnormal BAEP

Objective To investigate the value of brain stem auditory evoked potentials(BAEP)for infant on forecasting the protective effects of hyperbaric oxygen(HBO)therapy on bilirubin-encephalopathy at the early stage.Methods 65patients with neonatal jaundice and abnormal BAEP were divided randomly into two groups:the treated group with hyperbaric oxygen therapy(group A,n=35);the control group without hyper-baric oxygen therapy(group B,n=30);the patients of two groups both accepted the same combination treat-ment.In the treated group HBO treatment was performed once a day,10sessions constituting a single thera-peutic course.After the first therapeutic course,BAEP were reviewed.If the result of BAEP was abnormal,the hyperbaric oxygen treatment would be continued.Three months later,BAEP would be reviewed again.Results before treatment,a statistical comparison between group A and B was not significant with regard to the abnor-mal situation on the latent period and interval peak latency of BAEP(p0.05).After the first therapeutic course there are significant differences with regard to the abnormal rate of BAEP.Between the two groups(p0.01).After three months,the results of BAEP in treated group were normal,but there were3cases with ab-normal BAEP in the control group.Conclusions BAEP can act as an authentic objective index to forecasting the outlook for the patients with bilirubin-encephalopathy.And it may be taken as a guide in hyperbaric oxy-gen therapy on bilirubin-encephalopathy at the early stage.