Therapeutic experience of hyperbaric oxygenation in radiation colitis. Report of a case.

PURPOSE: The usefulness of the hyperbaric oxygenation in a patient with radiation colitis was evaluated.

METHODS: The patient had severe bleeding from the large bowel which resulted from a pelvic radiation therapy for prostatic carcinoma and was histologically diagnosed as radiation colitis. Hyperbaric oxygenation therapy consisting of 100 percent oxygen inhalation at two absolute atmospheric pressures 90 minutes daily for 30 days was performed.

RESULTS: The treatment succeeded in stopping gross hemorrhage and reversed endoscopic bowel findings.

CONCLUSION: The effect of the hyperbaric oxygenation therapy of radiation colitis is elucidated.