Use of hyperbaric oxygenation as an adjunctive treatment for severe pernicious anaemia in a bloodless medicine patient. - 2021

Severe anaemia in patients who cannot receive blood transfusion is an indication for the use of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBO). Most reports of the use of HBO for anaemia involve patients with acute blood loss. This report details a case of HBO used for a patient with severe pernicious anaemia. A 35-year-old Jehovah's Witnesses believer presented to a hospital with fatigue, dyspnoea and haemoglobin of 26 g/L. She was diagnosed with pernicious anaemia. As she could not receive blood transfusion due to her religious beliefs, vitamin B12 supplementation and HBO were administered and resulted in significant improvement in her condition. The mechanisms of action of HBO, including increased systemic plasma oxygenation, can alleviate signs and symptoms of anaemia regardless of its aetiology. HBO administration can greatly enhance the plasma arterial oxygen content, leading to clinical improvement in patients with anaemia who cannot receive blood transfusion. Copyright (c) BMJ Publishing Group Limited 2021. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.


English

1757-790X

10.1136/bcr-2020-240619 [doi] 14/4/e240619 [pii] PMC8048014 [pmc]


IN PROCESS -- NOT YET INDEXED


MedStar Institute for Quality and Safety


Journal Article