Objective  To investigate the effect of preoperative hyperbaric oxygen therapy upon the incidence of hypoxemia in patients after renal transplantation.

  Methods  In the experimental group, 55 patients received hyperbaric oxygen therapy prior to renal transplantation, and 66 counterparts in the control group underwent conventional renal transplantation. Postoperatively, the incidence of hypoxemia, pulmonary infection, time of in-bed oxygen inhalation and length of hospital stay were statistically compared between two groups.

  Results  In the experimental group, 12 among 55 patients (22%) presented with hypoxemia after renal transplantation, and 20 of 66 (30%) in the control group. In the experimental group, 4 cases suffered from pulmonary infection with an incidence of 7%, and 14 (21%) in the control group. In the experimental group, the incidences of hypoxemia and pulmonary infection were lower than those in the control group (both P < 0.05). In the experimental group, the time of in-bed oxygen inhalation and length of hospital stay were (5.9±2.0) d and (17.7±3.7) d, significantly shorter compared with (6.8±2.6) d and (20.5±4.2) d in the control group (both P < 0.05).

  Conclusions  Prior to renal transplantation, hyperbaric oxygen therapy can significantly reduce the risk of hypoxemia and pulmonary infection after renal transplantation, which can be served as a conventional preventive measure against the incidence of hypoxemia following renal transplantation.