What Researchers Did
Researchers studied whether hyperbaric oxygen therapy could help heal severe perineal lesions in ten patients with Crohn's disease who had not responded to other treatments.
What They Found
Out of ten patients, eight completed at least 30 hyperbaric oxygen therapy sessions. Six of these eight patients (75%) showed healing, with three achieving complete healing and three partial healing. All patients who healed completely received hyperbaric oxygen therapy in addition to local perineal surgery.
What This Means for Canadian Patients
For Canadian patients suffering from severe perineal Crohn's disease that has not responded to standard medical or surgical treatments, hyperbaric oxygen therapy could be a potential option. This study suggests it may be particularly helpful when used alongside surgery for better healing outcomes.
Canadian Relevance
No direct Canadian connection identified. This study does not cover a Health Canada-recognized indication for hyperbaric oxygen therapy.
Study Limitations
This study involved a very small number of patients and lacked a control group, which limits the strength of its findings.