Hydrogen Gas Prevents Confusion After Surgery in Elderly Patients
- Authors
- Hua Lin, Jian Du, Zhigang Tian, Yonghao Yu, Yan Cui, Keliang Xie
- Journal
- Journal of Personalized Medicine
- Year
- 2022
- DOI
- 10.3390/jpm13010067
- Study Type
- Human
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Country
- China
- Health Condition
- Postoperative Delirium
- Body System
- Nervous System
TL;DR
Breathing in hydrogen gas seems to reduce the chances of elderly patients experiencing confusion and mental disorientation after surgery.
Key Finding
Elderly patients who inhaled hydrogen gas before surgery had half the rate of postoperative delirium (12%) compared to those who did not receive hydrogen (24%).
Summary
This study tested whether breathing hydrogen gas before surgery could prevent postoperative delirium (a temporary state of confusion and disorientation that sometimes occurs after surgery) in elderly patients. Researchers randomly assigned 184 patients aged 65 and older to either breathe hydrogen gas or regular air before and after surgery. Delirium occurred in 24% of patients who did not receive hydrogen but only 12% of those who did, suggesting hydrogen inhalation may help protect the brain after surgery by reducing inflammation.
Practical Takeaway
This is early evidence from a single human trial suggesting hydrogen gas inhalation may help prevent postoperative delirium in elderly surgical patients. However, the study is relatively small, and more research is needed to confirm these findings and determine whether this approach would be practical in real surgical settings. Anyone considering hydrogen therapy should discuss it with their healthcare provider, especially before surgery.
Abstract
Purpose: Postoperative delirium is a state of acute brain dysfunction characterized by fluctuating mental status that affects millions of patients each year. We used prophylactic inhalation of hydrogen gas in elderly patients undergoing elective surgery to compare their occurrence of postoperative delirium with that of controls. Methods: A total of 184 patients aged ≥ 65 years were enrolled and randomized into either a control group or a hydrogen inhalation group. The quality of sleep was assessed 1 day before and 1, 3, and 7 days after surgery at 8 A.M. The Confusion Assessment Method (CAM) was used as a screening tool for delirium and assessed the patients’ state of consciousness 1−7 days after surgery. Results: Postoperative delirium occurred in 17 (24%) of 70 patients without hydrogen inhalation and in 10 (12%) of 83 patients after hydrogen inhalation. The incidence of delirium was decreased in the hydrogen group. No significant differences were found between length of stay in hospital after surgery and sleep quality at 1, 3, and 7 days postoperatively between the two groups. The numerical rating scale (NRS) pain scores were higher in the hydrogen group (4.08 ± 1.77) than the control group (3.54 ± 1.77) on day 1 (p < 0.05); however, the mean difference between the two groups was small (1 to 1.6). There were no significant differences on day 3 and 7. The postoperative C-reactive protein level was significantly lower in the hydrogen group than the control group. Conclusions: This study suggests that hydrogen inhalation can prevent postoperative delirium in elderly noncardiac patients by reducing the inflammatory response.