Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy for Antibiotic Refractory Pouchitis

Pouch ischemia plays an important role in the pathogenesis of pouchitis after IPAA surgery for ulcerative colitis. Obese Male patients are at high risk for pouchitis because of mesenteric tension. Excessive weight gain is associated with an increased risk for pouch failure in patients with restorative proctocolectomy. Also, patients with an 'S' pouch hardly ever develop chronic pouchitis, owing to the additional length of bowel loop along with mesentery when attached to the anal transitional zone. The treatment of chronic antibiotic-refractory pouchitis(CARP) is difficult. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy(HBOT) have been proven effecitve in the treatment of inflammatory bowel diseases(IBD). Meta-analysis revealed that the overall response rate was 86% (85% CD, 88% UC), and of the endoscopic response rate to HBOT is 100%. The possible mechanism might be due to the prmoted wound healing by increasing oxygen delivery to hypooxic tissues and changes in inflammatory and immunological mediators. Therefore, the aim of current study is to examine the therapeutic effect of HBOT for chronic antibiotic-refractory pouchitis(CARP).