Brain damage as a result of lack of oxygen during sugical procedure

Posted by ted77 @ted77, Nov 10, 2022

Is anyone at Mayo Clinic doing research and or treatment in restoring short term memory lost as a result of brain damage from lack of oxygen ? Following sucessful cardiac surgery a hospital cleaner accidentally disconnected oxygen supply during recovery followed by very noticeable decline in short term memory. No other observable abnormal signs.

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Amanda Roe | @amandajro | Nov 10, 2022

Hello @ted77 and welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. I am so sorry to read of this very unfortunate outcome after an otherwise successful surgical procedure. I am not aware of any specific research in this space but wonder what options there may be with hyperbaric oxygen therapy? Here is some information on that topic:

- Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy: https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/hyperbaric-oxygen-therapy/about/pac-20394380

Have you ever come across this when doing your own research?

ted77 | @ted77 | Nov 11, 2022

Hi Amanda,
Thank you very much for your kind and interesting response.
My query is a result of a Danish friend’s frustration in trying to ask the same of someone in the neurology department, particularly Dr. Ronald C. Peterson. My friend feels he is going in circles with the international appointments office.
My friend’s wife was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s immediately after the oxygen incident and now a Dr. has questioned the diagnosis, wondering if the oxygen deprivation instead may be responsible for brain damage causing the memory loss.
Basically, we would like to know if that would make any difference in treatment options, if there is research going on at Mayo Clinic, and if so would there be any idea for them to see someone at Mayo.
They realize there is likely no quick fix and as they have no plans to relocate to Rochester from Copenhagen it may not be practical. In which case perhaps they could point us in the right direction.
My friends are very pleased to pay for a consultation of any kind: telephone, email, video - and if a visit might be advisable, of course that too.
They would just like have answers the basic questions to
know that the trip is warranted rather than travel to Rochester just to present the case.
Thank you again,
Ted

John, Volunteer Mentor | @johnbishop | Nov 11, 2022

Hi @ted77, I'm am not sure if this is the type of research your friend was looking for but I did find an article that sounds similar that was funded by Mayo Clinic and also a clinical trial that is closed but shows a contact email address that may be helpful.

-- A Study to Evaluate Hypoxia and Inflammatory Injury in Human Renovascular Hypertension:
https://www.mayo.edu/research/clinical-trials/cls-20141837
-- Supplemental CO2 improves oxygen saturation, oxygen tension, and cerebral oxygenation in acutely hypoxic healthy subjects: https://physoc.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.14814/phy2.14513