HYPERBARIC TREATMENT OF RADIATION PROCTITIS

Course overview

RADIATION THERAPY OF THE PELVIS IS USED TO TREAT A VARIETY OF CANCERS, FOR EXAMPLE, OVARIAN, UTERINE, CERVICAL, PROSTATE, BLADDER, AND RECTAL CANCERS. RADIATION DAMAGE TO THE GASTROINTESTINAL (GI) TRACT CAN OCCUR, YET THE TREATMENT IS BENEFICIAL IN FIGHTING CANCER. HYPERBARIC OXYGEN THERAPY COMBATS THIS OTHERWISE DIFFICULT-TO-TREAT COMPLICATION OF RADIATION THERAPY. THIS ACTIVITY DESCRIBES THE PATHOPHYSIOLOGY OF RADIATION PROCTITIS AND HIGHLIGHTS THE ROLE OF THE INTERPROFESSIONAL TEAM IN ITS MANAGEMENT WITH HBO.