INTRODUCTION: In spite of the existence of several modalities of preservation, up to now a method that adequately keeps for a long time the quality and the functioning aspects of the small bowel to be transplanted is lacking. AIM: To gather articles using hyper baric oxygenation (HBO) as technique of small bowel preservation for transplant and quality of the preservation. METHODS: Database Medline and Scielo were checked at www.pubmed.com and www.bireme.br, with 58 works selected. Solutions supplying oxidative substratum to the cells and adding substances to prevent or reduce the formation of reactive oxygen, is the main source of preservation. The hypothermia and solutions oxygenation are in current use. Nine papers studied the specific use of the HBO. There is no consensus on its use in experimental works. However, these papers are not comparable, due to different methodologies and types of evaluation. One also argues the complexity and the costs of the HBO. In spite of that, there are evidences that the HBO can prevent hypothermia edema, keep the tecidual oxygenation during the preservation and hinder or diminish the formation of free radicals. CONCLUSION: HBO must be considered as the unique alternative or complementary technique in the preservation of the small bowell for transplant.
Small bowell; Organ preservation; Transplantation; Hyperbaric oxygenation