More than 90% of patients after radiation therapy (RT) due to malignant tumors of the vulva, cervix, uterus, prostate, and anal canal have radiation injuries (RI) of the skin and mucosa of the gastrointestinal and urinary tract of varying severity.

OBJECTIVE

To develop a methodology and evaluate the effectiveness of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBO) in the treatment of chronic radiation-induced proctitis (CRP) that developed after the end of radiation therapy (RT).

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Total 36 patients with CRP underwent HBO (26/72.2% women and 10/27.8% men). Median age was 62.5 years [50.8; 70.0].

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

The average number of HBO sessions was 25±8, but not less than 15. In 74.29% of cases, positive clinical dynamics and significant improvements in the endoscopic picture were noted. In almost half of the patients, the rectal mucosa edema decreased, and one-seventh of the patients had complete epithelialization of ulcers. All patients noted decrease in the pain intensity (p<0.001). In 77.14% of patients, the pain subsided, and only 11.43% had mild pain. More than half of patients with CLP (57.14%) showed a significant increase in exercise tolerance, and quality of life improved in 91.43%. Stool frequency and consistency returned to normal in 77.14%. 88.57% of patients had normalization of hemoglobin level. None of the patients had any complications, and no recurrence or progression of tumor was recorded.

CONCLUSION

HBO sessions can solve the problem of treating patients with CLP after RT.