What Researchers Did
Researchers retrospectively analyzed the medical files of 25 patients who received hyperbaric oxygen treatment for hemorrhagic cystitis following chemotherapy and/or hematopoietic stem cell transplantation between 2000 and 2020.
What They Found
Among 25 patients who received a median of 12 hyperbaric oxygen treatment sessions, complete healing was observed in 11 patients (44%), and haematuria improved in an additional 7 patients (28%). Hemorrhagic cystitis grades significantly improved after treatment compared to referral grades, with patients undergoing seven or more sessions showing the most benefit.
What This Means for Canadian Patients
For Canadian patients experiencing severe hemorrhagic cystitis after chemotherapy or stem cell transplantation, hyperbaric oxygen treatment may offer a safe and effective option to alleviate symptoms. This treatment could potentially improve quality of life for those with this difficult-to-manage complication, especially when other therapies have failed.
Canadian Relevance
This study has no direct Canadian connection as it was conducted outside of Canada.
Study Limitations
A key limitation is the retrospective design, meaning higher quality evidence from randomized controlled trials is needed to definitively prove efficacy.