ADVANCING REGENERATIVE MEDICINE IN PEDIATRIC GASTROENTEROLOGY: THE ROLE OF ENTERAL OXYGEN THERAPY IN CHRONIC GASTRODUODENAL DISEASE

Aims: The objective of this investigation was to assess the clinical effectiveness of enteral oxygen therapy (EOT) in promoting mucosal healing within the gastrointestinal tract of children diagnosed with chronic gastroduodenal pathology (CGDP). Methods and Materials: A total of 286 pediatric patients with established CGDP were included in a randomized clinical study. Diagnostic procedures encompassed fibrogastroduodenoscopy and comprehensive screening for Helicobacter pylori infection using both breath and stool antigen tests. Results: Based on FGDS findings, a novel Scoring Scale for Regeneration Processes (SSRP) was developed to quantify mucosal healing without the need for invasive biopsy. Following standard inpatient treatment, patients with inflammatory lesions demonstrated a Grade 3 regeneration response, while those with ulcerative pathology reached Grade 4. After a single course of rehabilitation incorporating EOT, a marked improvement to Grade 1 regeneration was observed (mean score: 6.6 ± 0.77), compared to Grade 2 in the non-EOT group (mean score: 10.9 ± 1.23). These findings reflect a statistically significant enhancement—over 63%—in reparative-regenerative activity associated with EOT. Concurrently, H. pylori carriage rates declined by up to 2.5-fold in the EOT group. Conclusions: Enteral oxygen therapy substantially accelerates mucosal regeneration in children with CGDP, demonstrating up to a 63% increase in reparative capacity. Moreover, its integration into a comprehensive rehabilitation protocol contributes to a significant reduction in Helicobacter pylori colonization, with prevalence decreasing to 9.5%.