Hyperbaric oxygen therapy for the management of hemorrhagic radio-induced cystitis

Radio-induced cystitis (RADC) is an inflammatory bladder disease that presents as anemic-hematuria in its most serious form. Classic treatments can not control the disease in the mid-to-long term because they don't treat the pathogenesis of the disease. Thus, we evaluated the effectiveness of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) therapy as a potential treatment for patients with RADC.

This prospective study included 38 patients, 21 men and 17 women, mean age of 66.5 years(46-75), who had been subjected to pelvic radiotherapy (RT), with the diagnosis of RADC with or without radio-induced proctitis (RADP), gross hematuria and lower urinary tract symptoms. HBO treatment was applied in a multiplace chamber; patients breathed pure oxygen (100%) at 2-2.5 atmospheres of pressure (ATAs). Patients received an average of 31.2 sessions (10-48 sessions) and the median follow-up period was 56 months (4-72 months).

Hematuria was completely resolved in 34 of the 38 patients. After HBO 6 patients required readmission, 5 for anemic hematuria and 1 for acute obstructive pyelonephritis. In general, patients tolerated treatment well; however, one patient experienced barotrauma requiring myringotomy.

HBO can be used to satisfactorily treat RADC, leading to clinical improvements that begin during the initial sessions in the majority of cases, and with a more than acceptable level of patient tolerance.