What Researchers Did
Researchers systematically reviewed 17 studies involving 613 patients with inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis) to assess the safety and efficacy of hyperbaric oxygen therapy.
What They Found
The overall response rate to hyperbaric oxygen therapy was 86% across all inflammatory bowel disease patients, with 85% for Crohn's disease and 88% for ulcerative colitis. For perineal Crohn's disease, the response rate was 88%, and for ulcerative colitis patients with endoscopic follow-up, it was 100%. Out of 8924 treatments, only nine adverse events occurred, six of which were serious, indicating a lower adverse event rate compared to HBOT for other conditions.
What This Means for Canadian Patients
Canadian patients with inflammatory bowel disease, including Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, might consider hyperbaric oxygen therapy as a potentially safe and effective treatment option. This therapy could offer an alternative for managing symptoms and improving response rates, especially for specific manifestations like perineal Crohn's disease.
Canadian Relevance
This systematic review did not include any Canadian researchers or study sites.
Study Limitations
A significant limitation of this review was the high risk of bias identified across the included studies.