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Pelvic radiation therapy is widely used in the management of gynecologic, urologic, and colorectal malignancies, including ovarian, uterine, cervical, prostate, bladder, and rectal cancers. Radiation exposure may injure the gastrointestinal tract, producing chronic radiation proctitis characterized by mucosal ischemia, fibrosis, and progressive microvascular damage. Risk increases with higher radiation doses, large treatment fields, and concurrent chemotherapy. Patients may present months to years after radiation therapy with rectal bleeding, diarrhea, urgency, tenesmus, or anorectal pain. Severe disease may lead to ulceration, strictures, fistula formation, or chronic anemia from recurrent bleeding. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is an adjunctive treatment that delivers 100% oxygen under increased atmospheric pressure, enhancing tissue oxygenation and promoting angiogenesis and mucosal healing in ischemic irradiated tissue. Indications include persistent or severe radiation proctitis refractory to conservative or endoscopic management. Contraindications include untreated pneumothorax and certain pulmonary conditions. Treatment typically requires multiple sessions and access to specialized hyperbaric facilities. Reported response rates are favorable in selected patients. Potential complications include barotrauma and oxygen toxicity, whereas untreated disease may result in progressive gastrointestinal morbidity and impaired quality of life. This activity for healthcare professionals is designed to sharpen learners' skills in administering hyperbaric treatment for radiation proctitis and evaluating potential candidates. Participants will deepen their understanding of the relevant anatomy and the procedure's mechanisms, indications, contraindications, required preparation, technique, benefits, and risks. Enhanced competence will empower clinicians to collaborate with interprofessional teams providing care for individuals with radiation proctitis. Objectives: Screen candidates for contraindications, comorbidities, and factors increasing the risk of barotrauma, oxygen toxicity, or intolerance to hyperbaric oxygen therapy. Implement hyperbaric oxygen therapy according to established pressure, duration, and frequency protocols, with continuous monitoring for patient safety and treatment efficacy.

Screen candidates for contraindications, comorbidities, and factors increasing the risk of barotrauma, oxygen toxicity, or intolerance to hyperbaric oxygen therapy. Implement hyperbaric oxygen therapy according to established pressure, duration, and frequency protocols, with continuous monitoring for patient safety and treatment efficacy. Improve patient understanding of the purpose, benefits, procedural requirements, and potential risks of hyperbaric oxygen therapy for radiation proctitis. Collaborate with all members of the interprofessional team, including specialists such as gastroenterologists, radiation oncologists, and hyperbaric medicine physicians, to provide efficient, comprehensive, and coordinated care for individuals undergoing hyperbaric oxygen therapy for radiation proctitis. Access free multiple choice questions on this topic.

Pelvic radiation therapy is employed in the management of various cancers, including ovarian, uterine, cervical, prostate, bladder, and rectal malignancies. Exposure to radiation can cause injury to the gastrointestinal tract, although the therapy remains effective in controlling cancer. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) addresses this challenging complication by promoting tissue oxygenation, angiogenesis, and mucosal healing in irradiated gastrointestinal tissue.

Radiation proctitis, defined as damage to the lower colon, represents soft tissue radionecrosis and a delayed effect of therapeutic radiation. The condition is considered a sequela of radiation-induced, progressive, obliterative endarteritis, resulting in reduced small blood vessels within the affected tissue, chronic mucosal ischemia, submucosal fibrosis, progressive epithelial atrophy, and formation of new vessels (telangiectasia). Radiation proctitis typically manifests 6 months to several years after radiation exposure.[1]

The incidence of chronic radiation proctitis after exposure to pelvic radiation doses exceeding 5,000 cGy ranges from 1% to 5%. Some reports indicate an incidence as high as 10%, with a study demonstrating a rate of significant radiation proctitis (grade 2 or higher) of 40%. Notably, the use of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors produced a substantial reduction in the occurrence of this condition.[2]

Late radiation changes produce friable, inflamed mucosa (mucositis), which can result in ulcerations and bleeding that occasionally require recurrent transfusions. Strictures and fibrosis may develop, causing intestinal obstruction and fistula formation, both of which are associated with significant morbidity.

Signs and symptoms of radiation proctitis include hematochezia, mucus discharge, diarrhea, tenesmus, and fecal incontinence.[3] Patient history should include a detailed radiation therapy report, as radiation proctitis is uncommon with doses below 5,000 cGy. Physical examination may reveal perirectal fistulas, anal ulceration, and a fibrotic rectum with associated mucus and blood.

Assessment of radiation proctitis requires consideration of the patient’s initial malignancy history to evaluate for potential cancer recurrence. Clinical evaluation includes digital rectal examination and proctoscopic examination. Colonoscopy is indicated to delineate the extent of inflammation and ulceration and to exclude malignancy (see Image. Moderate-to-Severe Radiation Proctitis on Colonoscopy). Biopsies are generally avoided, as they do not contribute to the diagnosis and carry a risk of severe rectal wall injury, which may result in necrosis or fistula formation.

The American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons’ clinical practice guidelines for chronic radiation proctitis recommend HBOT as an effective modality to reduce bleeding. The society strongly supports this therapy based on moderate-quality evidence.[4] HBOT is believed to improve long-term tissue oxygenation through angiogenic effects. The therapy also promotes reepithelialization and stimulates collagen formation. Successful resolution of radiation proctitis typically requires 30 to 40 treatment sessions. HBOT is generally well tolerated, with favorable outcomes in more than 85% of patients. Symptom relief occurs in 89% of patients and is sustained for 6 to 12 months posttreatment.[5] A meta-analysis of 22 clinical studies, including 6 randomized controlled trials involving 1,318 subjects, demonstrated that HBOT reduces gastrointestinal symptoms, promotes mucosal repair, decreases inflammation, and enhances immune function in patients with radiation enteritis, a condition closely related to radiation proctitis.[6] HBOT can serve as an adjunct to other therapies for chronic radiation proctitis, including formalin application, sucralfate retention enemas, 5-aminosalicylic acid derivatives, probiotics, antioxidants, antibiotics, and endoscopic argon plasma coagulation. Sucralfate enemas are highly efficacious, inexpensive, and well tolerated, representing a preferred 1st-line option. HBOT may be administered concurrently with these therapies or following their failure.[7][8] A 10-year retrospective analysis reported complete symptom resolution in 62% of patients. At least partial symptom resolution occurred in 94% of patients.[9] Treatment courses typically involve 20 to 30 HBOT sessions at 2 to 2.5 ATA for 60 to 120 min/day. Nutritional support and local therapy in combination with HBOT may reduce complications and alleviate symptoms in patients with moderate-to-severe disease.[10] Bowel surgery carries a high complication rate, exceeding 70% in some series.[11] Preoperative HBOT significantly reduces postoperative complications and increases the likelihood of successful resolution.

Clinicians must exclude the possibility of cancer recurrence. Symptoms alone cannot reliably distinguish radiation proctitis from more significant pathology. In a study of 171 patients presenting with rectal bleeding after radiation therapy, 141 were diagnosed with radiation proctitis. The study identified 95 additional diagnoses, including 8 cases of cancer and 9 high-risk adenomas.[12]

Acute proctitis develops within the first few months of radiation treatment in 10% to 15% of patients and is typically self-limited, lasting only a few months. The condition involves inflammation of the rectal mucosa, with loss of microvilli, edema, and ulceration. Common symptoms include abdominal pain, tenesmus, diarrhea, incontinence, and urgency.[13] Chronic proctitis, frequently associated with bleeding, develops months to years after radiation treatment and often follows a progressive course. Risk factors for chronic proctitis include severe acute proctitis, diabetes mellitus, inflammatory bowel disease, connective tissue disease, hypertension, smoking, peripheral vascular disease, and chemotherapy. Early loss of anterior rectal wall glandular tissue after radiation therapy predicts subsequent development of radiation proctitis. Maintaining the radiation dose to this area below 52 Gy is recommended to reduce risk.[14]

HBOT may serve as a preventative strategy for soft tissue radiation effects like radiation proctitis. Radiation induces significant elevations of oxidative stress, antioxidants, and profibrotic factors, which are completely reversed and normalized by HBOT in animal studies.[15] The therapy may prevent radiation-induced tissue changes by modulating oxidative stress and inflammatory cascades. Hydrocortisone enemas are associated with a significant reduction in the severity of acute radiation proctitis and may also decrease the development of late effects.[16] Machine learning models using clinical and dosimetric data may predict and guide prevention strategies for radiation proctitis.[17] A recent update of the original Cochrane Review on HBOT for late radiation tissue injury indicates that HBOT in radiation proctitis may improve outcomes, reduce the risk of wound dehiscence, and provide modest pain reduction. No effect on short-term mortality was observed. The review recommends further research on optimal treatment timing and dosing.[18]

Colonoscopy after radiation therapy for prostate cancer is supported by rationale and data to screen for colorectal cancer and chronic radiation proctitis. Annual screening revealed a high incidence of asymptomatic radiation proctitis.[19] Endoscopy following postoperative radiation therapy for rectal cancer may identify patients at risk for developing radiation proctitis. The presence of telangiectasias was particularly predictive of subsequent disease.[20]

Hospitalization for radiation proctitis is associated with an inpatient mortality rate of approximately 2%.[21] A randomized, controlled, double-blind, crossover trial demonstrated significant improvement in refractory radiation proctitis with HBOT compared with control. Retrospective studies report complete resolution of bleeding and urgency in approximately 50% of patients. An Australian study reported HBOT success rates of 95%.[22]

HBOT is a relatively low-risk therapy. Otic barotrauma is common but generally mild. Less frequent complications include oxygen toxicity, seizures, transient myopia, and rare cataract formation. Patients with severe structural lung disease or impaired left ventricular function are at increased risk for serious complications, including pulmonary barotrauma and acute pulmonary edema. Contraindications to HBOT include recent administration of doxorubicin or bleomycin, claustrophobia, epilepsy, severe emphysema, particularly with blebs, and certain implanted devices. Active cancer is not considered a contraindication to HBOT, despite theoretical concerns that angiogenic effects could accelerate tumor growth.[23]

Gastroenterology or surgical consultation for endoscopic examination is warranted to exclude other diagnoses, including cancer or high-risk polyps. Biopsies do not aid in diagnosis and should be avoided because they carry a risk of severe rectal wall injury, which may result in necrosis or fistula formation.

Following cancer therapy, patients should be advised about the potential for soft-tissue radiation effects, including radiation proctitis. Early intervention is critical to optimize medical management and HBOT and to prevent progression to invasive procedures. Although time-intensive, HBOT is well-tolerated, low-risk, and associated with favorable outcomes.

Biopsies do not contribute to the diagnosis of radiation proctitis and should be avoided due to the risk of severe rectal wall injury, including necrosis and fistula formation. Radiation proctitis may improve spontaneously over time, a factor that should be considered when planning treatment.