title: Survey of the use of hyperbaric oxygen by maxillofacial oncologists in the UK.
abstract: Oral and maxillofacial surgeons often use hyperbaric oxygen (HBO). Our aim was to find out the referral pattern of these surgeons for HBO. We contacted oral and maxillofacial units in England, Wales, and Scotland and identified 125 consultants who are involved in the management of patients with cancers of the head and neck. We sent these surgeons a postal questionnaire and 91 (73%) replied. Eighty-five of these consultants (93%) saw patients with osteoradionecrosis and only five of these never referred patients for HBO. About half the respondents (57%) saw patients for the insertion of osseointegrated implants after radiotherapy to the jaw, and seven of these never referred patients for HBO. All the respondents saw patients who required mandibular molar extractions after radiotherapy and 30 (33%) never referred these patients for HBO. Most consultants were unaware of the method of delivery of HBO. This survey suggests that most surgeons consider HBO to be part of the management of osteoradionecrosis, but their knowledge about delivery is weak and protocols vary.
authors.affiliation: University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK.
authors.forename: A N
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Kanatas
authors.forename: Derek
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lowe
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Harrison
authors.forename: Simon N
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Rogers
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D015921:Dental Implants / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004739:England; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D006931:Hyperbaric Oxygenation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D007568:Jaw / Q000528:radiation effects; D008334:Mandible / Q000528:radiation effects; D008963:Molar / Q000601:surgery; D010025:Osteoradionecrosis / Q000628:therapy; D019239:Practice Patterns, Dentists' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012606:Scotland; D013515:Surgery, Oral / Q000193:education / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014081:Tooth Extraction / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014852:Wales
chemical_list: D015921:Dental Implants