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87 yo patient seeking HBO for radiation injury after head/neck radiation. His extensive history of sarcomatoid sqamous cell carcinoma has demonstrated no recurrence since 2021 following cefemiplimab administration. The patient underwent L thoracoscopy, partial decortication of fungating L hemithorax mass, again, SqCCa in 2019. A one month old chest xray and ct scan did not demonstrate air trapping or blebs and only Lower lung pleural thickening and small effusion in this former smoker with stable PFT's. Does the prior decortication procedure pose significant risk to this patient to dive?
Jan 9, 2024 by Douglas Kelling,
2 replies
Eugene Worth
MD, M.Ed., FABA, ABPM/UHM

Hello! Thanks for the great question.


Short answer: No, no contraindication for HBOT.


Longer answer: If this were a 57 y/o (or you insert the number) and wanted to SCUBA … the answer is that this decortication and pleural thickening is disqualifying.


However, given that the HBO chamber is a controlled environment, I recommend a little slower decompression phase and clinical monitoring.


All the best!


gene


Jan 9, 2024
Thanks, Gene.
Jan 9, 2024
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