NAUS urging DoD to begin testing on Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy

An excerpt fron the National Association for Uniformed Services® website12/22/2009

Wednesday morning, NAUS President Matz and Legislative Director Rick Jones attended a meeting at the VFW Washington headquarters for a briefing from former Secretary of the Army Martin Hoffman in Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy in the treatment of brain injuries.

During the presentation, Sec. Hoffman highlighted the need for additional funding and research into the treatment of the numerous traumatic brain injuries (TBI) from Iraq and Afghanistan by Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT 1.5). The 1.5 in the acronym represents the treatment atmospheric pressure of 1.5 atmospheres.

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy is a well-tested option in treating at least 13 other medical conditions. A very small sample of around 30 Iraq/Afghanistan casualties have been very successfully treated using this method. Additionally there are other civilian studies that support this treatment method.

Over a year ago DoD announced a clinical trial for HBOT 1.5, but no progress has been made due to lack of resources to design the test and begin testing patients.

NAUS looks forward to working with other military and veterans organizations in urging DoD to begin testing as soon as possible. If the preliminary results of a very tiny test can be duplicated for the larger number of wounded warriors who have been diagnosed with TBI, we believe this needs to be proven as soon as possible in order that our troops can be given the very best treatment.