Preconditioning with hyperbaric oxygen in pancreaticoduodenectomy: a randomized double-blind pilot study

Area of Science:

• Surgical Oncology
• Hyperbaric Medicine
• Gastroenterology

Background:

• Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma presents significant surgical challenges.
• Postoperative complications can negatively impact patient outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the biological and clinical effects of preoperative hyperbaric oxygen therapy.
• To assess the impact of a single hyperbaric oxygen session on pancreatic surgery outcomes.

Main Methods:

• Prospective randomized double-blind study involving 21 patients.
• Group A received hyperbaric oxygen (HBO); Group B received placebo.
• Blood samples (cytokines) and clinical outcomes were monitored.

Main Results:

• Preoperative HBO treatment may reduce the overall complication rate.
• Specific inflammatory markers (IL-1, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-12, TNF-α) were analyzed.
• Complications such as POPF, fever, and delayed gastric emptying were recorded.

Conclusions:

• A single preoperative hyperbaric oxygen treatment shows promise in mitigating postoperative complications after pancreatic resection.
• Further research is warranted to confirm these findings in larger cohorts.