The Role of Hyperbaric Oxygen as a Prophylaxis for Radiation Enteritis

Abstract

C3H mice were used to study the effects of post radiation treatments of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) on preventing onset of radiation enteritis. Fifty mice were irradiated in the abdominal pelvic regions with identical radiation doses of 3000 CGY in 10 fractions over two weeks. The mice were randomly divided into a control and a study group of 25 each. The control group received no other treatment while being maintained with standard nutritional support. The study group preceived 30 HBO treatments (90 min of 100% oxygen at 2.4 ATA for 5 days/ week for 6 weeks) starting 7 weeks after radiation therapy. All mice were sacrificed at 7 months and examined for signs of radiation damage. A numerical scoring system was used to quantitatively evaluate radiation damage to tissue. A score of +30 was determined for the radiation control group consisting of 21 surviving animals while a score of only +3 was noted for the HBO treated study group consisting of 25 surviving animals. Stretch meter examination showed that 7 of 21 control animals possessed stenotic lesions while only 4 of 25 HBO- treated animals were affected. Histological examination for submucosal fibrosis is presently in progress with no apparent differences noted thus far. This study indicates that post-radiation HBO treatments can significantly reduce small bowel radiation damage in mice.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Feb 14, 1993
Accession Number
ADA274974

Entities

People

  • John J. Feldmeier

Organizations

  • University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Bone Diseases
  • Diseases And Disorders
  • Dose Rate
  • Fibrosis
  • Health
  • Hyperbaric Medicine
  • Ileum
  • Materials
  • Musculoskeletal Diseases
  • Necrosis
  • Pathologic Constriction
  • Pelvis
  • Preventive Medicine
  • Radiation
  • Radiation Dosage
  • Standards

Fields of Study

  • Medicine

Readers

  • Brain and Cognitive Science; Experimental Psychology; Cognitive Neuroscience
  • Cardiovascular Physiology
  • Marine Mammal Biology