THE EFFECT OF HYPERBARIC-OXYGEN ON IRRADIATED ORAL-TISSUES - TRANSMUCOSAL OXYGEN-TENSION MEASUREMENTS

Purpose: This study measured the effect of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) tre atment on transmucosal oxygen tension in irradiated human oral mucosa. Patients and Methods: Ten patients received 30 dives of HBO as part o f their treatment for mandibular osteoradionecrosis, A noninvasive, no nheated oxygen electrode was used to measure the tissue surface transm ucosal oxygen tension directly on the attached gingiva, Measurements w ere done before, during, and after HBO treatment, The normal level of gingival surface transmucosal oxygen tension was measured in five heal thy volunteers. Results: During HBO treatment, the transmucosal oxygen tension increased significantly after five dives of HBO (P <.05), Aft er 30 dives, the increases were from a mean of 50% to a mean of 86% of the transmucosal oxygen tension of normal healthy gingiva. Conclusion : An increase in the transmucosal oxygen tension is based on neo-angio genesis, Patients with subischemic tissues, such as the study populati on with postirradiation mucosal and osseous necrosis, therefore may be nefit from treatment with HBO.