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Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy BY AMY GEISZLER-JONES HYPERBARIC THER APY CAN BE A TRE ATMENT OPTION FOR THE SMALL PERCENTAGE OF MALE PATIENTS WHO DE VELOP HEMORRHAGIC CYSTITIS OR PROCTITIS FOLLOWING APPROPRIATE R ADIATION THER APY FOR PROSTATE CANCER. ABOUT 3 TO 5 PERCENT of men who've undergone radiation therapy for prostate cancer develop bleeding from the bladder, says Marilee McBoyle, MD, the Medica l Director at Ascension Via Christi Wound Hea ling a nd Hy perba ric Therapy Center at 848 N. St. Fra ncis in Wichita . " For that subset of men who do, it 's ver y miserable," she says. "Some of them encounter mu ltiple hospita lizations, which may necessitate a cystoscopy to irrigate and empty the bladder of clots as well as control the bleeding. Sometimes they 'll bleed enough to require a tra nsfusion." Radiation treatment may have a da mag ing effect on blood vessels, causing the vessels to become wea k a nd fragile with resulta nt bleeding. Hy perba ric ox ygen therapy ca n provide the needed ox ygen to a id in a ng iogenesis, the formation of new, hea lthier blood vessels. The a i r we breat he t y pica l ly prov ides about 20 percent ox ygen u nder one at mosphere of pressu re. Pat ient s i n a hy perba r ic ch a mber breat he 10 0 percent ox y gen u nder t wo to t wo -a nd-a-ha l f at mospheres of pressu re. Once i n t he t ra nspa rent cha mber, pat ient s may ex per ience some of t he sa me sen sat ion s a s t hey wou ld when t ravel i n g i n a n a i r pla ne or d r iv i n g i n t he mou nt a i n s a s at mospher ic pressure increa ses. "For men with hemorrhagic cystitis, treatments ca n ra nge between 20 to 40 treatments, each taking two hours and admin- istered Monday through Friday," says Na ncy Tra felet, RT, the Prog ra m Director. It ta kes about 10 minutes to achieve t he appropr iat e at mospher ic pressure. A f ter administering pu re ox y gen for 9 0 m i nut e s , a not her 10 minutes is needed for decompression. To help pass the time, patients can watch TV or a movie on a monitor outside t he ch a mber wh i le a t ra i ned sta ff member rema ins with the patient in the treatment room. A f t e r r e c e i v i n g 2 0 t r e a t - ments, the patient is a ssessed for prog ress, a nd a decision is made rega rding continuation of more treatments. " W hen pat ient s s t a r t s e e - i n g posit ive resu lt s, t hey a re excited," Tra felet says. Hy perba ric therapy ca n a lso help women who experience bleeding fol low ing appropriate radiation treatment for a g ynecolog ica l or recta l ma lig na ncy, Dr. McBoyle says. The A scension Via Christi wound center bega n of fering hy perba ric ox ygen therapy in December 2013. Patients typically require a referral from their urologist or primary care physician before being seen at the Ascension Via Christi Wound Healing and Hyperbaric Therapy Center in Wichita . For questions, call 316-268-5881. n Other Conditions Hyperbaric treatment can also be beneficial in the following conditions: + Diabetic foot ulcers + Osteoradionecrosis + Delayed radiation injuries + Soft tissue radionecrosis + Failed skin grafts/ flaps + Osteomyelitis Can Help With Radiation-Induced Bleeding Marilee McBoyle, MD, Medical Director at Ascension Via Christi Wound Healing and Hyperbaric Therapy Center A patient undergoes hyperbaric oxygen therapy at Ascension Via Christi Wound Healing and Hyperbaric Therapy Center 1 4