[Management of urinary bladder radiation injury].

AIM: To investigate the role of hyperbaric oxygen therapy in the management of patients with radiation induced urinary bladder injury (radiation cystitis). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study comprised 23 patients with late radiation induced urinary bladder injury who were evaluated and treated using hyperbaric oxygen therapy and bladder instillation. Before and after treatment, all patients underwent cystoscopy with the bladder mucosa biopsy. - RESULTS: In all patients, the treatment resulted in positive outcomes manifested by resolution of hematuria, alleviation of dysuria, decrease in urination frequency to 6.5 +/- 0.5 times a day, increase the bladder capacity, which ultimately improved patients the quality of life. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy was well tolerated, there were no adverse effects. Morphological studies confirmed positive clinical changes following hyperbaric oxygen therapy. CONCLUSION: The study findings support wider use of hyperbaric oxygen therapy in the management of radiation cystitis.

[Hyperbaric oxygenation in the treatment of patients with interstitial cystitis: clinical and morphological rationale].

We studied efficacy of hyperbaric oxygenation (HBO) in 8 patients with interstitial cystitis/painful bladder syndrome (IC/PBS). Mean age of the patients was 53 years (35-72 years), mean duration of the disease 7.5 years (6-17 years). Ulcerative IC/PBS was diagnosed in 7 of 8 patients. The patients received combined treatment: surgical (hydrobouginage of the bladder, electrocoagulation of bladder ulcer) and a HBO course in the postoperative period. The efficacy was assessed by clinical and morphological criteria (estimation of histamine level in urethral smears, proliferative activity of bladder mucosa epithelial cells). A HBO course consisted of 10 sessions (40 min, 2 atm). The treatment reduced the number of voidings for 24 hours, increased mean effective bladder volume, lowered a total score by L. Parsons scale, histamine content in urethral smears, stimulated proliferative activity of bladder mucosa epithelium. Thus, HBO proved its safety and effectiveness in combined treatment of IC/PBS.