Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Efficacy In The Treatment Of Hematuria Due To Radiation Cystitis. Experience In A Reference Center

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) in the treatment of hemorrhagic radiation cystitis (HRC).MATERIAL AND METHOD: Retrospective study of patients diagnosed with hematuria secondary to HRC after pelvic radiation from January 2005 to January 2017 who were treated with HBOT. Demographic and clinical variables were collected. A descriptive univariate and multivariate statistical analysis using Cox regression was carried out. The treatment was considered effective when there was a total or partial remission of the hematuria based on the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG) scoring schema. Partial remission was defined as the presence of hematuria grade 2 or less.RESULTS: A total of 67 patients with a mean age of 68,6 years (39-87) were included. 65,7% men and 34,3% women. The RT was administered in 64,2% of the cases by urological cause, prostate cancer. The average dose of RT was 75,24 Gy (45-180). The mean from the RT to the HBOT treatment was 55,97 months (4-300) and from the beginning of the hematuria until the treatment was 71,3 months (1-48). Response was observed in 51 (76,1%) patients, total in 50,7% and partial in 25,4% of cases. Patients with a degree of hematuria less than 3, those who were administered more than 30 sessions and those who did not require transfusion or hospital admission, responded significantly better to treatment with HBOT (p<0.05) according to the univariate and multivariate analysis. No adverse effects related to treatment were reported, only one patient was excluded due to claustrophobia.CONCLUSIONS: Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is an effective and safe treatment for the management of hematuria due to radiological cystitis secondary to radiotherapy. A better response was observed in patients with a lower degree of hematuria and those who could be administered a greater number of sessions.