THE USE OF HYPERBARIC OXYGEN FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF RADIATION RELATED SKIN ULCERS AND SOFT TISSUE NECROSIS
Eleftherios Valis, Ioannis Kalemikerakis, Georgios Vasilopoulos, Martha Kelesi, Maria Polikandrioti, Evangelos Dousis
Friday, October 1, 2021
Publication year:
2021
Authors:
- Valis Eleftherios, RN, MSc, MSc in “Wound Care and Treatment”
- Kalemikerakis Ioannis, 2. Lecturer, Faculty of Health and Caring Professions, Department of Nursing, Athens University of Applied Sciences, Greece
- Vasilopoulos Georgios, Assistant Professor, Faculty of Health and Caring Professions, Department of Nursing, Athens University of Applied Sciences, Greece
- Kelesi Martha, Professor, Department of Nursing, University of West Attika
- Polikandrioti Maria, Assistant Professor,Department of Nursing,Technological Educational Institute of Athens
- Dousis Evangelos, Assistant Professor, Department of Nursing, University of West Attika
Keywords index:
- hyperbaric oxygen
- hyperbaric oxygen treatment
- radionecrosis
- dermal soft tissue radionecrosis
- radiotherapy
Pages: 252-262
Abstract:
Introduction: Radiation therapy (R/T) seems to have contributed significantly in recent decades to the treatment of many oncological patients. However, a percentage of these patients will experience symptoms from the side effects of radiation. Post-radiation skin lesions are common in irradiated patients and various interventions are recommended for their care. One of them is Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT), as it improves the oxygenation and promotes the healing of the damaged area and the healing mechanism.Aim: The purpose of this study was to investigate the use of HBOT in the management of post-radiation ulcers and soft tissue necrosis.Method: A systematic review of PubMed, Cochrane library, Scopus and Open Archives databases for the years 2009-2019 was performed. Prerequisites for the introduction of an article in the study were the English or Greek language of writing and to be a primary study in adult patients with post-radiation skin ulcers.Results: 8 articles were the subject of this study. The 3 retrospective studies concluded that HBOT improves post-radiation ulcers, but the statistically significant results that could highlight this effect in a strong indication are poor. The other 5 case studies concluded that the use of HBOT led to complete recovery or significant improvement of the ulcer, but poor research design and small sample size impeded the generalizability of the findings.Conclusions: HBOT appears to improve the healing of a soft tissue necrosis or a post-radiation ulcer and at the same time improves the negative symptoms of such damage, but there is no strong evidence for these results.
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