TREATMENT OF RADIATION PROCTITIS WITH HYPERBARIC-OXYGEN - WHAT IS THEOPTIMAL NUMBER OF HBO TREATMENTS

Aim: Our objective was to investigate the effectiveness of hyperbaric oxygenation (HBO) in the treatment of radiation proctitis. The current literature was reviewed with regard to the necessary number of HBO tr eatments. Patients and Methods: Two patients with proctitis after pelv ic irradiation were treated with 40 and 38 HBO treatments, respectivel y. Hyperbaric oxygenation was delivered at 240 kPa over 90 min. Result s: In one patient, proctosigmoidoscopy showed a significant improvemen t after 40 HBO sessions, The other patient interrupted therapy after 3 8 HBO treatments without subjective change, The reported number of HBO sessions for a succesful treatment of radiation proctitis ranges from 12 to 90. Conclusion: HBO should be considered before more invasive t reatment modalities are performed for radiation proctitis.