Possible application of hyperbaric oxygen technology in the management of urogenital and renal diseases

The effect of hyperbaric oxygen therapy on the clinical outcomes of necrotizing soft tissue infections: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

To determine the efficacy of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBO) in the treatment of necrotizing soft tissue infections (NSTI), we conducted a meta-analysis of the available evidence.

METHODS

Data sources were PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and reference lists. The study included observational trials that compared HBO with non-HBO, or standard care. The primary outcome was the mortality rate. Secondary outcomes were the number of debridement, amputation rate and complication rate. Relative risks or standardized mean differences with 95% confidence intervals were calculated for dichotomous and continuous outcomes, respectively.

RESULTS

A total of retrospective cohort and case-control studies were included, including 49,152 patients, 1448 who received HBO and 47,704 in control. The mortality rate in the HBO group was significantly lower than that in the non-HBO group [RR = 0.522, 95% CI (0.403, 0.677), p < 0.05]. However, the number of debridements performed in the HBO group was higher than in the non-HBO group [SMD = 0.611, 95% CI (0.012, 1.211), p < 0.05]. There was no significant difference in amputation rates between the two groups [RR = 0.836, 95% CI (0.619, 1.129), p > 0.05]. In terms of complications, the incidence of MODS was lower in the HBO group than in the non-HBO group [RR = 0.205, 95% CI (0.164, 0.256), p < 0.05]. There was no significant difference in the incidence of other complications, such as sepsis, shock, myocardial infarction, pulmonary embolism, and pneumonia, between the two groups (p > 0.05).

CONCLUSION

The current evidence suggests that the use of HBO in the treatment of NSTI can significantly reduce the mortality rates and the incidence rates of complications. However, due to the retrospective nature of the studies, the evidence is weak, and further research is needed to establish its efficacy. It is also important to note that HBO is not available in all hospitals, and its use should be carefully considered based on the patient's individual circumstances. Additionally, it is still worthwhile to stress the significance of promptly evaluating surgical risks to prevent missing the optimal treatment time.

Hyperbaric oxygen treatment and nephrotoxicity induced by gentamicin in rats

Background

Nephrotoxicity is a significant adverse side effect of gentamicin. Previous preclinical studies showed that hyperbaric oxygen treatment (HBOT) may have beneficial effects by attenuating renal damage in rats subjected to renal injury. We evaluated the effect of HBOT on acute renal failure caused by gentamicin.

Methods

Thirty-six rats were divided into four groups. Gentamicin (150 mg/kg for 5 consecutive days) was administered in 30 rats, 10 rats received only gentamicin, 10 rats received 100% oxygen therapy on days 1-5 of the experiment, 10 received daily HBOT on days 1-5 of the experiment, and the remaining six served as a control group. On day 6, renal function tests and renal pathological examinations were performed.

Results

Body weight and biochemical parameters were similar in all groups except for higher plasma levels of calcium in the 100% oxygen group (P = 0.03). All the rats in the experimental group showed biochemical parameters compatible with renal failure (high serum levels of urea and creatinine). All the rats in the control group had normal renal function tests. Two rats from the HBOT group died on the fifth day of the experiment. All rats in the control group demonstrated normal renal morphology. All 28 intoxicated rats showed moderate to severe histopathological changes without significant differences between the groups.

Conclusions

Treatment of gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicity with either HBOT or 100% oxygen for 5 days had no beneficial renal effect. Mortality was observed only in the HBOT group.

The relationship between N-acetylcysteine, hyperbaric oxygen, and inflammation in a rat model of acetaminophen-induced nephrotoxicity

An overdose of acetaminophen (APAP) produces acute tubular necrosis. The aim of this study was to observe the effects of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) only and combined with N-acetylcysteine (NAC) on inflammatory cytokines in kidney. Thirty-two male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into four groups: sham, control (APAP), NAC, and NAC + HBO. In the APAP, NAC, and NAC + HBO groups, renal injury was induced by oral administration of 1 g/kg APAP. The NAC group received NAC (100 mg/kg/day). NAC + HBO group received NAC (100 mg/kg/day) intraperitoneally and HBO underwent at 2.8 ATA pressure with 100 % oxygen inhalation for 90 min every 12 h for 5 days. Rats in the sham group received distilled water only by gastric tube. All animals were killed on 6 days after APAP or distilled water administration. Creatinine, urea, neopterin, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and interleukin (IL)-6 levels were measured in sera. There was a significant increase in serum creatinine and urea levels in the control group compared to the sham group (in both, p = 0.001). NAC and NAC + HBO significantly decreased serum neopterin, TNF-α, and IL-6 levels compared to control group. APAP administration caused tubular necrosis in the renal. NAC and NAC + HBO treatments significantly reduced APAP-induced renal damage. The results of this study showed that renal dysfunction in APAP toxicity was attenuated by the use of HBO and NAC treatments. The combination of NAC and HBO treatments might be recommended as an effective treatment modality for APAP-induced nephrotoxicity.

Effect of hyperbaric oxygen therapy on the intestinal ischemia reperfusion injury

PURPOSE

Adequate tissue oxygenation is essential for healing. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) has potential clinical applications to treat ischemic pathologies, however the exact nature of any protective effects are unclear at present. We therefore investigated the potential role of HBOT in modulating the ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury response in intestinal model of I/R injury.

METHODS

Male Wistar rats were subjected to surgery for the induction of intestinal ischemia followed by reperfusion. HBOT was provided before and/or after intestinal ischemia. Cell viability in the intestinal tissue was assessed using the MTT assay and by measuring serum malondealdehyde (MDA). Microvascular density and apoptosis were evaluated by immunohistochemistry.

RESULTS

The results indicate that HBOT treatment pre- and post-ischemia reduces lesion size to the intestinal tissue. This treatment increases cell viability and reduces the activation of caspase-3, which is associated with increased number of tissue CD34 cells and enhanced VEGF expression.

CONCLUSION

The hyperbaric oxygen therapy can limit tissue damage due to ischemia/reperfusion injury, by inducing reparative signaling pathways.

Diagnosis and treatment of perianal necrotizing fasciitis

Perianal necrotizing fasciitis (PNF) is a serious infectious disease that results from a synergistic action of multiple bacteria and has a high mortality rate. In the early stage of PNF, symptoms are highly variable. Early diagnosis and adequate treatment are important for the prognosis of PNF. Therapeutic measures for PNF include surgical removal of necrotic tissue, drainage, debridement and full dose of broad-spectrum antibiotics. In this article, we will review the recent advances in the diagnosis and treatment of PNF.