Hyperbaric oxygen therapy in the management of radiation-induced hemorrhagic cystitis: a prospective study

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) in the treatment of radiation-induced hemorrhagic cystitis.METHODS: Hyperbaric oxygen therapy was prospectively administered to 33 patients diagnosed with radiation-induced cystitis. The primary endpoint of the study was the rate of complete and partial responses to treatment. Secondary endpoints included the duration of response, the association between treatment success and the interval from hematuria onset to therapy initiation, the need for blood transfusions, total radiation dose received, the number of treatment sessions required to achieve success, avoidance of surgical intervention, and overall survival.RESULTS: All patients completed the treatment course without any complications. The mean number of sessions required was 29.2. The rates of complete and partial response were 81.8% and 9.1%, respectively. At the end of the follow-up period, all patients remained alive, and no treatment-related adverse effects associated with HBO therapy were documented.CONCLUSIONS: Our study supports hyperbaric oxygen therapy as an effective and safe treatment option for radiation-induced cystitis, with high response rates and no treatment-related complications.