Radionecrosis treated with HBOT at HOPE

Soft Tissue Radionecrosis PDF Print E-mail

Pathophysiology and Hyperbaric Effects

Soft tissue radionecrosis results from damage done to non-osseous tissues by ionizing radiation during the course of radiotherapy for cancer. The introduction of super voltage radiation therapy made the cure of solid tumors of the head, neck, and pelvis a reality. The powerful beams destroy some tumor masses. But the new therapy also exacts a toll on the body. Tissues in the path of the radiation beam suffer damage.

Once the patient is exposed to the radiation beam, tissue damage begins. The layer of endothelium supplying the irradiated area starts to proliferate, resulting in a proliferative endarteritis. This proliferation, most often noted in the capillaries, continues and interferes with the normal processes of supplying blood to irradiated areas. The tissue begins to manifest ischemic changes, and may become frankly necrotic. In irradiated areas, ischemia and necrosis can occur. Ischemic tissue may survive without adequate blood supply for a long period of time, until a traumatic or infectious incident triggers the events leading to extensive tissue death. There is no spontaneous resolution from the vasculitis and the inflammation progresses after completion of the radiotherapy. Surgeons attempting repair confront numerous complications. The area surrounding the lesion is also damaged. When attempting to graft to or rotate a flap, surgeons must connect to tissues that are ischemic and hypoxic. Procedures often fail because the tissue does not heal due to ischemia. HBOTs main influence on tissue damaged by irradiation is angiogenesis, thereby promoting tissue healing. Beehner and Marx and Marx alone demonstrated this effect in several elaborate studies. The researchers measured transcutaneous oxygen levels, then showed that the angiogenic effect began and progressed through a repeatable, phased course.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• Radionecrosis
• Hyperbaric Oxygen
• Wound Care
• Chronic
• HOPE

[arpucio1]

Very impressive results, for such a short period of time

[MachApocalypse]

GNARLY!