Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy for Necrosis

krisvell · 07-09-2011, 07:36 AM

Hi all;

I was hoping there are some people on this site who could share their experience using HBOT (Hypberbaric Oxygen Thearpy) to treat radiation necrosis.

It hasn't been used very frequently but from what I've read it can be successful there's really no risk. The 2nd opinion neuro-oncologist thought it was worth trying. My oncologist is looking into this.

If there are any stories of success, please share.

Currently, my symptoms haven't changed too much but I would like to do whatever I can and make sure the necrosis stops. I am now on Decatron to control the swelling. Oh what fun!

Thanks.

Hugs,

Kris....

Jackie07 · 07-09-2011, 08:10 AM

Kris,

I don't have the experience. But the abstract below shows the procedure is quite promising. Noticed, though, the procedure was for patients with 'severe cognitive deficit'.

Cancer. 2011 Feb 1. doi: 10.1002/cncr.25874. [Epub ahead of print]
Hyperbaric oxygen treatment improved neurophysiologic performance in brain tumor patients after neurosurgery and radiotherapy: A preliminary report.

Schellart NA, Reits D, van der Kleij AJ, Stalpers LJ.
Source

Biomedical Engineering and Physics, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands. n.a.schellart@amc.nl.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Cognitive performance often is impaired permanently in long-term brain tumor survivors after neurosurgery and radiotherapy. Hyperbaric oxygen treatment (HBOT) stimulates neovascularization of hypoperfused tissue and may result in improved functionality of damaged tissue. In this pilot study, clinical neurophysiologic tests were used to assess the effect of HBOT on brain performance.
METHODS:

Ten long-term brain tumor survivors received HBOT for severe cognitive deficits after neurosurgery and radiosurgery. Patients were tested before HBOT and at 6 weeks and 4 months after HBOT. The tests comprised a quantitative electroencephalographic (EEG) examination, the Informant Questionnaire on Cognitive Decline in the Elderly (IQCODE) for memory performance, and 2 cognitive tests, the number connection test (NCT) and the continuous reaction time test (CRTT). Late event-related components (LERCs) of averaged evoked EEG responses to a visual odd-ball stimulus were analyzed from whole-head activity maps. For comparison, a control group of healthy individuals (no HBOT) also were investigated.
RESULTS:

After HBOT, the amplitude of the LERC with the longest latency, P3b (involved in object interpretation) was improved significantly (P = .02). The amplitudes of the N200 (occipital, negative) and the intermediate P3a (centroparietal, positive), LERCs with shorter latencies, and of a small, positive, occipital visual component did not change. Neither latencies nor reaction times changed after HBOT. However, P3a and P3b (parietal, positive) latencies were longer in survivors than in healthy individuals. The NCT produced inconclusive results, but the IQCODE revealed an improvement. When outcomes of the NCT, CRTT, IQCODE, and P3b amplitudes were evaluated in common tests, HBOT appeared to provide substantial improvement (P<.006).
CONCLUSIONS:

On the basis of the current results, the authors concluded tentatively that HBOT improves neurophysiologic performance in long-term brain tumor survivors. Cancer 2011. © 2011 American Cancer Society.

Jackie07 · 07-09-2011, 08:41 AM

This entry in Wikipedia lists certain chemo agents that have controindication to the procedure:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyperbaric_medicine

hutchibk · 07-10-2011, 11:34 AM

This is very interesting. I plan to look deeper too and ask my brain docs what they know.

krisvell · 07-10-2011, 01:10 PM

Thanks Jackie and Brenda;

Here's some info:

From American Cancer Survivors Network - January 19, 2011 - 4:11pm
This treatment is mainly used for healing wounds, such as diabetic wounds. It is my understanding that it works by causing new blood vessels to grow, thus healing dead tissue (necrosis), which could be a wound or what we find in the brain. Our Duke doctor had a patient who nearly became unable to swallow. She said after 30 treatments, he saw major improvement, and they did 20 more treatments. He's now back singing in the choir.

2009 Pub Med = successful treatment with HBOT http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18786715

Good summary and risks (minimal) https://www.inspire.com/gpawelski/journal/hbot-for-radiation-induced-necrosis/