What Researchers Did
Researchers compared two hyperbaric oxygen therapy pressures, 2.0 ATA and 2.5 ATA, in patients being treated for hemorrhagic radiation cystitis, a bleeding bladder condition that can follow pelvic radiation.
What They Found
This retrospective chart review of 93 patients treated at two sites found that fewer patients treated at 2.5 ATA had gross hematuria within one year after therapy compared to those treated at 2.0 ATA (p less than 0.05). Time to hematuria recurrence did not differ between groups, at 10.2 months versus 9.6 months. Other urinary symptoms showed no difference between the two pressure groups, and treatment number and duration were similar across both. Adverse events were more common in patients treated at 2.5 ATA.
Canadian Relevance
No direct Canadian connection identified.
Study Limitations
This was a retrospective, non-randomized chart review at two sites, so it cannot establish that the pressure difference caused the outcomes observed, and the authors themselves state that randomized studies are necessary to determine causality.