AFTER six months in a coma, a 27-year-old local woman woke up last week following hyperbaric oxygen therapy at Changhai Hospital.
The woman was left in a coma after the motorcycle she was riding crashed into a car on the afternoon of June 26. She suffered serious brain injuries in the accident, according to doctors.
While doctors were able to save her life, they couldn't get her to respond to any treatment or other stimulation.
In August, she began undergoing treatment at Changhai's hyperbaric oxygen center.
Dr Liu Qingle（刘青乐）, the center's director, worked out a special treatment plan for her, including oxygen therapy, repeated massage and other measures to stimulate her every day.
According to Liu, hyperbaric oxygen therapy helps increase the uptake of oxygen in the body and causes a super saturation of oxygen in the blood plasma and tissue fluids. Thus, the body utilizes oxygen better, functions more efficiently, promotes healing and improves health and fitness.
It can be used to treat infant's cerebral paralysis, nerve system problems, gas poisoning, brain injuries due to accident, viral infections, and cardiovascular syndromes.
Oxygen therapy is considered the most effective method to renovate the brain cells and nerve functions in comatose patients, experts said. Since 2002, more than 70 patients in vegetable status have regained consciousness at Changhai Hospital.