Radiation damage

Late effects of radiation that occur weeks and years later can be avoided with timely hyperbaric oxygen therapy.

Clinical applications of Hyperbaric Oxygen:

Helps in faster wound healing by formation of new microvasculature (angiogenesis)
Provides and prepares a better healthy tissue for skin grafts and dental implants if needed
Improves bone remodeling by stimulation new bone to growth (osteogenesis)
Prevents or arrests already existing infection
Prophylaxis – prevention of development delayed radiation injury

Results of Hyperbaric oxygen therapy in radiation injury:

Hyperbaric oxygen increases tissue radio-sensitivity (enhancing the effect of radiation/chemo therapy)
Hyperbaric oxygen prevents delayed radiation injury (swelling, pain and wounds due to radiation)
Hyperbaric oxygen enhances the immune system
Hyperbaric oxygen promotes new vascular growth preparing conditions for skin/bone grafts and implants
Hyperbaric oxygen improves bone remodeling by stimulation of new bone growth and removal of necrotic bone
Hyperbaric oxygen prevents or arrests already existing infection
Improves oxygenation of all body organs

Treatment protocol:
Hyperbaric oxygen sessions are 90 minutes long at 2.4 ATA of pressure of pure oxygen. Number of sessions needed depend on the seriousness of the condition and response to the therapy, which can be assessed with measurements of microcirculation. At BaroMedical, the screening of the clients and the progress of the therapy are monitored with most advanced equipment: Laser Doppler blood flow, tissue oxygen monitor and digital camera.

Soft tissue radiation injury:

Skin – skin damage (atrophy) and non-healing wounds
Genitourinary problems – radiation cystitis (inflammation of the bladder), proctitis (inflamma-tion of the rectum and anus) resulting in fistulas, abscesses, fibrosis and scar formation
Larynx – swelling, pain, difficulty swallowing and hoarseness

Bone radiation injury:

Bone cell destruction (osteoradionecrosis) – leading to spontaneous fractures, infections and delayed healing

Eye radiation injury:

Radiation-induced optic neuropathy – loss of vision

Further reading:

Aanderud L, Thorsen E, Brattebo G, Forland M, Kristensen G: Hyperbaric oxygen treatment for radiation reactions. Tidsskr Nor Laegeforen; 30; 120(9):1020-2, Mar 2000
Bem J, Bem S, Singh A: Use of hyperbaric oxygen chamber in the management of radiation-related complications of the anorectal region: report of two cases and review of the literature. Dis Colon Rectum; 43(10): 1435-8, Review, Oct 2000
Bevers RFM, Bakker DJ, Kurth KH: Hyperbaric oxygen treatment for hemorrhagic radiation cystitis. The Lancet; 346:803-805, 1995
Borruat FX, Schatz NJ, Glaser JS, Feun LG, Matos L: Visual recovery from radiation-induced optic neuropathy. The role of hyperbaric oxygen therapy.J Clin Neuroophthalmol;13 (2):98-101, Jun1993
Cronje FJ: A review of the Marx protocols: Prevention and management of osteoradionecrosis by combining surgery and hyperbaric oxygen therapy. SADJ; 53(10): 469-71, Review, Oct 1998
D'Souza, J; Goru, S; Goru, S; Brown, J; Vaughan, ED; Rogers, SN, The influence of hyperbaric oxygen on the outcome of patients treated for osteonecrosis: 8 year study; Int J Oral Maxillofac Surg; Epub July 5,2007
Davis JC, Dunn JM, Gates GA, Heimbach RD: Hyperbaric oxygen a new adjunct in the management of radiation necrosis. Arch Otolaryngol; 105 (2): 58-61, Feb 1979
Del Pizzo JJ, Chew BH, Jacobs SC, Sklar GN; Treatment of radiation induced hemorrhagic cystitis with hyperbaric oxygen: long-term followup. J Urol; 160 (3 Pt 1): 731-3, Sep1998
Feldmeier JJ, Heimbach RD, Davolt DA, Court WS, Stegmann BJ, Sheffield PJ: Hyperbaric oxygen as an adjunctive treatment for delayed radiation injury of the chest wall: a retrospective review of twenty-three cases. Undersea Hyperb Med; 22(4): 383-93, Dec1995
Feldmeier JJ,Newman R, Davolt DA, Heimbach RD, et al: Prophylactic hyperbaric oxygen for patient undergoing salvage for recurrent head and neck cancers following full course irradiation. Undersea Hyper Med; 25(suppl): 101, 1998.
Feldmeier JJ, Heimbach RD, Davolt DA, Stegmann BJ, Sheffield PJ: Hyperbaric oxygen as an adjunct of delayed radiation injuries of the extremities. Undersea Hyper Med; 25(suppl): 9, 2000
Feldmeier JJ, Heimbach RD, Davolt DA, Court WS, et al: Hyperbaric oxygen as adjunctive for delayed injuries of the abdomen and pelvis. Undersea Hyper Med; 23(4): 205-213, 1996
Filntisis GA, Moon RE, Kraft KL, Farmer JC, Scher RL, Piantadosi CA: Laryngeal radionecrosis and hyperbaric oxygen therapy: report of 18 cases and review of the literature. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol; 109 (6):554-62, Jun 2000
Ganstrom G, Jaccobson M, Tjellstrom A: Titanium implants in irradiated tissue: benefits from Hyperbaric oxygen. The International Journal of Oral& Maxillofacial Implants; 7(1): 15-25, 1992
Ganstrom G, Tjellstrom A, Branermark P, et al: Bone-anchored reconstruction of the irradiated head and neck cancer patient. Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery; 108 (4):334-343, 1993
Greenwood TW, Gilchrist AG: Hyperbaric oxygen and wound healing in post-irradiation head and neck surgery. Br J Surg; 50:394, 1973
Hartmann KA, Almeling M, Carl UM, Schmitt G. Comment: Hyperbaric oxygenation (HBO) in the treatment of radiogenic side effects. Clinical experiences are decisive! Strahlenther Onkol; 174 (4): 221-2, Apr 1998
Hart GB, Strauss MB: Hyperbaric oxygen in the management of radiation injury. In Schmutz J. (ed): Proceedings of the First Swiss Symposium on Hyperbaric Medicine. Basel, Switzerland: Foundation for Hyperbaric Medicine ; pp. 31-51, 1986
Hart GB, Mainous EG: The treatment of radiation necrosis with hyperbaric oxygen Cancer; 37:2580-2585, 1976
Jamil MU, Eckardt A, Franko W: Hyperbaric oxygen therapy. Clinical use in treatment of osteomyelitis, osteoradionecrosis and reconstructive surgery of the irradiated mandible. Mund Kiefer Gesichtschir; 4(5): 320-3, Sep 2000
Kaufman T, Hirshowitz B, Monies-Chass I: Hyperbaric oxygen for postirradiation osteomyelitis of the chest wall. Harefuah 97:220-222, 271, 1979
Kanatas, AN; Lowe, D; Harrison, J; Rogers, SN; Survey of the use of hyperbaric oxygen by maxillofacial oncologists in UK; British Journal of Oral Maxillofacial Surg; June 2005
Kindwall E: Hyperbaric oxygen’s effect on radiation necrosis. Clinics in plastic surgery; 12 (3): 473-483, 1993
London SD, Park SS, Gampper TJ, Hoard MA: Hyperbaric oxygen for the management of radionecrosis of bone and cartilage. Laryngoscope; 108(9): 1291-6, Sep 1998
Maier A, Gaggl A, Klemen H, Santler G, Anegg U, Fell B, Karcher H, Smolle-Juttner FM, Friehs GB: Review of severe osteoradionecrosis treated by surgery alone or surgery with postoperative hyperbaric oxygenation. Br J Oral Maxillofac Surg; 38(3): 173-6, Jun 2000
Marx RE, Johnson RP, Kline SN: Prevention of osteoradionecrosis: a randomized prospective clinical trial of hyperbaric oxygen versus penicillin. J Am Dent Assn; 111:49-54, 1985
Marx RE, Ehler WJ, Tayapongsak P, et al; Relationship of oxygen dose to angiogenesis induction in irradiation tissue. The American Jurnal of Surgery; 160:519-524, 1990
Marx RE: A new concept in treatment of osteoradionecrosis. Journal of Oral Maxillofacial Surgery; 41:351-357, 1983
Mathews R, Rajan N, Josefson L, Camporesi E, Makhuli Z: Hyperbaric oxygen therapy for radiation-induced hemorrhagic cystitis. J Urol; 161:435-437, 1999
Peusch-Dreyer D, Dreyer KH, Muller CD, Carl U. Management of postoperative radiation injury of the urinary bladder by hyperbaric oxygen (HBO). Strahlenther Onkol; 174 Suppl 3:99-100, Nov 1998
Plafki C, Carl UM, Glag M, Hartmann KA: The treatment of late radiation effects with hyperbaric oxygenation (HBO). Strahlenther Onkol; 174 Suppl 3:66-8, Review, Nov 1998
Pomeroy BD, Keim LW, Taylor RJ: Preoperative hyperbaric oxygen therapy for radiation induced injuries. J Urol; 159(5): 1630-2, May 1998
Rijkmans BG, et al: Succesful treatment of radiation cystitis with hyperbaric oxygen Eur Urol; 16:354-356, 1989
Roden D, Bosley TM, Fowble B, Clark J, Savino PJ, Sergott RC, Schatz NJ: Delayed radiation injury to the retrobulbar optic nerves and chiasm. Clinical syndrome and treatment with hyperbaric oxygen and corticosteroids. Ophthalmology; 97(3): 346-51, Mar 1990
Vudiniabola S, Pirone C, Williamson J, Goss AN: Hyperbaric oxygen in the therapeutic management of osteoradionecrosis of the facial bones. Int J Oral Maxillofac Surg; 29(6): 435-8, Dec 2000
Vudiniabola S, Pirone C, Williamson J, Goss AN: Hyperbaric oxygen in the prevention of osteoradionecrosis of the jaws. Aust Dent J; 44(4): 243-7, Dec 1999
Williams J, Clarke D, Dennis WA, et al: The treatment of pelvic soft tissue radiation necrosis with hyperbaric oxygen. Am J Obstet Gynecol; 167(2):412-416, 1992
Weiss JP, Mattei DM, Neville EC, Hanno PM. Hyperbaric oxygen: Primary treatment of radiation-induced cystitis with hyperbaric oxygen: 10-year experience. J Urol; 151 (6): 1514-1517, 1994

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A guided tour of hyperbaric oxygen therapy for Post Radiation Recovery

Cancer Recovery

A M., North Vancouver, BC

"...I found the sessions to be very friendly and efficient. I would highly recommend this treatment."

Radiation necrosis

G H, Langley, BC

"I felt strongly that through my treatments, the staff and practitioners at Baromedical made my best outcomes their top priority.

The team responsible for my treatment was professional and very helpful and had a direct impact on my positive results.

Thank you Baromedical. You have made me feel like my old self again, confident and strong enough to face the next leg of my treatment journey. "

Radiation Damage