Effects of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy for Malignant Bowel Obstruction Caused by Peritoneal Dissemination.

Introduction: This study aimed to investigate the efficacy of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) in patients presenting with malignant bowel obstruction (MBO) and peritoneal dissemination.

Materials and methods: We retrospectively examined whether HBOT affects prognosis following MBO with peritoneal dissemination. This study included 44 patients diagnosed with MBO secondary to peritoneal dissemination at our hospital between January 2013 and December 2022. Among these patients, 30 underwent HBOT. The treatment protocol involved daily HBOT administration, comprising 100% oxygen at 2.5 atmospheres absolute for 60 min.

Results: In a univariate analysis of HBOT and non-HBOT groups, the proportion of patients able to resume eating was significantly higher in the HBOT group. Therefore, the percentage of patients in the non-HBOT group whose MBO did not improve was significantly higher than that in the HBOT group. The percentage of patients undergoing surgery or receiving anticancer treatment did not differ significantly between the groups, whereas overall survival was significantly longer in the HBOT group. Furthermore, when examining inoperable patients, significantly more individuals in the HBOT group could resume eating, and their overall survival was significantly prolonged.

Conclusions: HBOT may increase the spontaneous resolution rate and improve long-term prognoses of patients with MBO secondary to peritoneal dissemination.