What Researchers Did
Researchers conducted a systematic review to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) for non-neurological soft tissue radiation-related injuries.
What They Found
Out of 41 included articles, 11 compared HBOT to other regimens, revealing serious adverse events were rare. HBOT demonstrated clinical benefits for radiation proctitis and wounds in irradiated head and neck soft tissue, but not for post-irradiation soft tissue edema or radiation cystitis.
What This Means for Canadian Patients
Canadian patients suffering from radiation proctitis or non-neurological soft tissue injuries of the head and neck after radiation therapy may find hyperbaric oxygen therapy beneficial. This treatment is generally safe, with serious adverse events being uncommon.
Canadian Relevance
This study has no specific Canadian connection.
Study Limitations
The methodological quality of the comparative evidence varied considerably, and numerous limitations were identified across the included studies.