Hyperbaric oxygen therapy for late radiation-induced tissue toxicity: Prospectively patient-reported outcome measures in breast cancer patients

__Introduction:__ This study examines patient reported outcome measures of women undergoing hyperbaric oxygen treatment (HBOT) after breast-conserving therapy. __Method:__ Included were 57 women treated with HBOT for late radiation-induced tissue toxicity (LRITT) referred in the period January 2014-December 2015. HBOT consisted of (on average) 47 sessions. In total, 80 min of 100 % O2 was administered under increased pressure of 2.4 ATA. Quality of life was assessed before and after treatment using the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) QLQ-BR23, and a NRS pain score. __Results:__ Fifty-seven women were available for evaluation before and after treatment. Before HBOT, patients had severe complaints of pain in the arm/shoulder (46 %), swollen arm/hand (14 %), difficulty to raise arm or move it sideways (45 %), pain in the area of the affected breast (67 %), swollen area of the affected breast (45 %), oversensitivity of the affected breast (54 %), and skin problems on/in the area of the affected breast (32 %); post HBOT, severe complaints were still experienced in 17, 7, 22, 15, 13, 15, and 11 % of the women, respectively. Differences were all significant. The NRS pain score improved at least 1 point (range 0-10) in 81 % of the patients (p < 0.05). __Conclusion:__ In these breast cancer patients treated with HBOT for LRITT, the patient-reported outcomes were positive and improvements were observed. HBOT was a well-tolerated treatment for LRITT and its side-effects were both minimal and reversible

Sudden death after oxygen toxicity seizure during hyperbaric oxygen treatment: Case report

Acute cerebral oxygen toxicity (ACOT) is a known side effect of hyperbaric oxygen treatment (HBOT), which can cause generalised seizures. Fortunately, it has a low incidence and is rarely harmful. Nevertheless, we present a case of a 37 year-old patient with morbid obesity who died unexpectedly after an oxygen toxicity seizure in the hyperbaric chamber. Considering possible causes, physiologic changes in obesity and obesity hypoventilation syndrome may increase the risk of ACOT. Obesity, especially in extreme cases, may hinder emergency procedures, both in- and outside of a hyperbaric chamber. Physicians in the hyperbaric field should be aware of the possibility of a fatal outcome after ACOT through the described mechanisms and take appropriate preventative measures. Basic airway management skills are strongly advised for involved physicians, especially when specialised personnel and equipment are not immediately available

Hyperbaric oxygen treatment for University of Texas grade 3 diabetic foot ulcers: A retrospective cohort study

Aim: Hard-to-heal diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) may increase the risk of amputation. This study reports the positive influence of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) on hard-to-heal DFUs involving underlying bone. Method: A single-centre, retrospective cohort study reporting the results of HBOT and wound care on hard-to-heal University of Texas grade 3 DFUs (i.e., involving underlying bone) between 2013 and 2019. Outcome measures were primarily (near-) complete wound healing (i.e., ≥80% ulcer surface area reduction) and amputation rate (minor or major), and secondarily the number of hyperbaric sessions and improvement in quality of life (QoL) and pain score. Results: The study included 206 patients, of whom 74 (36%) achieved complete wound healing, and 75 (36%) near-complete healing. Amputations were performed in 27 patients (13%): 12 (6%) minor and 15 (7%) major. The median number of HBOT sessions was 42. Participants who achieved complete healing received a median of 43 sessions, compared with 10 for those who required major amputation. Patients with at least 30 sessions were less likely to undergo amputation (odds ratio: 0.08; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.03-0.21). Mean QoL increased by 7.6 points (95%CI: 3.9-11.3; p≤0.01) and median pain score fell from 3 to 1 (0-3) (p≤0.01). Conclusions: The addition of HBOT to standard wound care may lead to a decreased amputation risk, improved wound healing and increased QoL for people with a University of Texas grade 3 DFU. An adequate number of HBOT sessions is required to achieve optimal clinical results. Objective selection criteria and shared decision-making are suggested to improve dropout rates. Declaration of interest: The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare. No specific funding was received for this work