Oxygen therapy

Although healthy adults with normal cerebral circulation can compensate for mild hypoxia (low oxygen) through an increase in cerebral flow, this is difficult in patients whose brain is already ischaemic.

Mild hypoxia is common in stroke patients, affecting up to 63% of stroke patients after admission, and it is associated with neurological deterioration.

On the other hand, oxygen supplementation has its own problems. There is evidence from animal models and in vitro studies that oxygen encourages the formation of toxic free radicals, leading to further damage to the ischaemic brain.

For current research and evidence-based recommendations see our Clinical Guidelines.