Crohn's Disease

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy has demonstrated significant benefits for inflammatory and chronic bowel conditions. It reduces markers of inflammation, such as CRP, and improves disease activity indices like CDAI. In Crohn’s disease.


Crohn's Disease

Crohn's Disease

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy has demonstrated significant benefits for inflammatory and chronic bowel conditions. It reduces markers of inflammation, such as CRP, and improves disease activity indices like CDAI. In Crohn’s disease.


How Hyperbarics Helps

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Significantly reduces inflammation markers like CRP and improves disease activity scores (CDAI).

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Promotes clinical and steroid-free remission in refractory Crohn’s disease, with radiological improvements in 50% of cases.

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Supports healing of extreme perineal pseudotumors (PPS), with complete recovery and no readmissions.

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Enhances overall treatment outcomes as a safe, tolerable adjunct therapy with minimal side effects.

What the Research Says

A Promising Therapy for Reducing Inflammation and Enhancing Healing in Chronic and Refractory Conditions

Crohn's disease is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease causing transmural inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract, often affecting the terminal ileum and colon. Symptoms include abdominal pain, diarrhea, weight loss, and fatigue. Its etiology involves genetic, immune, and environmental factors, with potential complications including strictures and fistulas. Treatment includes anti-inflammatory drugs, biologics, and surgery when necessary.

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) has demonstrated significant benefits for inflammatory and chronic bowel conditions. It reduces markers of inflammation, such as CRP, and improves disease activity indices like CDAI. In Crohn’s disease, HBOT fosters clinical and steroid-free remission, with half of the patients showing radiological improvements. For extreme cases of perineal pseudotumors, HBOT supports complete healing post-surgery, with no readmissions during follow-up. As a safe, tolerable option, HBOT enhances outcomes for treatment-resistant conditions.

Research Studies

Journal of Translational Medicine

HBOT Reduces Inflammation and Disease Activity in Crohn’s Disease: CRP and CDAI Scores Improve Significantly
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy ameliorates intestinal and systematic inflammation by modulating dysbiosis of the gut microbiota in Crohn’s disease

Journal of Translational Medicine

HBOT Reduces Inflammation and Disease Activity in Crohn’s Disease: CRP and CDAI Scores Improve Significantly
After 10 sessions of HBOT, CRP levels (P = 0.004) and CDAI scores (P = 0.044) significantly decreased in patients undergoing treatment, though ESR levels remained unchanged (P = 0.251). Fecal calprotectin levels improved in three patients, with normalization in one case, while hemoglobin levels showed a mild, non-significant decrease (P > 0.05). These findings suggest HBOT may reduce inflammation and disease activity in specific cases. Li Y, Sun R, Lai C, et al. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy ameliorates intestinal and systematic inflammation by modulating dysbiosis of the gut microbiota in Crohn’s disease. Journal of Translational Medicine. 2024;22:1-14. doi:10.1186/s12967-024-05317-1

All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India

Clinical Effectiveness of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy in Complex Wounds

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) Shows Promising Results for Refractory Small Bowel Crohn’s Disease, with Significant Clinical Remission

All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India

Clinical Effectiveness of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy in Complex Wounds

In this pilot study, 14 patients with stricturing small bowel Crohn’s disease (CD) refractory to conventional treatments underwent HBOT. Over a median of 4 weeks and 11 sessions per patient (range, 3–20), 64.2% achieved clinical response, and 50–64.2% reached clinical remission at 2 and 6 months, respectively. Steroid-free remission occurred in 57% of patients, with 50% showing radiological improvement. SIBD scores improved significantly at 2 months (P = 0.03). HBOT was well-tolerated, except for one case of hemotympanum, suggesting it is a safe and potentially effective therapy for refractory CD. Kante B, Sahu P, Kedia S, et al. Efficacy and tolerability of hyperbaric oxygen therapy in small bowel stricturing Crohn’s disease: a pilot study. Intestinal Research. 2022;20(2):231-239. doi:10.5217/ir.2021.00056
Colorectal Disease

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy for the management of chronic wounds: patient selection and perspectives.

HBOT as Adjunctive Therapy for Extreme Perineal Pseudotumors: Successful Healing and No Recurrence at Long-Term Follow-Up
Colorectal Disease

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy for the management of chronic wounds: patient selection and perspectives.

This study evaluated the use of preoperative and postoperative hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) in four patients with extreme perineal pseudotumors (PPS) refractory to prior interventions. Patients underwent up to 30 preoperative HBOT sessions followed by abdominoperineal PPS excision and RAM flap reconstruction, with additional postoperative HBOT sessions in two cases. All patients achieved complete perineal healing within a median of 2.5 months, with no hospital readmissions for PPS at a median follow-up of 35 months. HBOT appears to be a safe and effective adjunct to surgical management for treatment-resistant PPS. Chan XH, Koh CE, Glover M, Bryson P, Travis SP, Mortensen NJ. Healing under pressure: hyperbaric oxygen and myocutaneous flap repair for extreme persistent perineal sinus after proctectomy for inflammatory bowel disease. Colorectal Dis. 2014;16(3):186-190. doi:10.1111/codi.12500

Patient Experiences

Listen to what real patients have to say about their experiences.
  • Unbranded
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  • Lisa St John, the clinic director for Bay Area Hyperbarics, had chronic refractory osteomyelitis that lasted seven years with no relief. The infection induced severe fatigue and cognitive impairment that prevented her from working, and required her to sleep up to 18 hours per day. Finally, a physician recommended hyperbaric oxygen therapy with antibiotics, which after 60 treatments, healed her. Shortly after being healed, she sold her home to begin her first hyperbaric oxygen therapy clinic, which she has owned for almost 25 years!

    Lisa, 44

    After seven years of suffering, hyperbaric oxygen therapy healed her osteomyelitis.
  • Jennifer had osteomyelitis of the lower jaw (mandible), which proved difficult to heal. Her teeth were becoming loose, and her doctor thought she would need surgery. However, he prescribed hyperbaric oxygen therapy before the surgery, and after 60 treatments, her chronic refractory osteomyelitis healed completely, regrowing bone in her mandible. Jennifer was able to keep her teeth, and was able to return to her active lifestyle, hiking regularly with her husband.

    Jennifer, 68

    Hyperbaric oxygen therapy eliminated the need for surgery to heal her bone infection.
  • Unbranded
    Lisa, 44
    After seven years of suffering, hyperbaric oxygen therapy healed her osteomyelitis.
    Lisa St John, the clinic director for Bay Area Hyperbarics, had chronic refractory osteomyelitis that lasted seven years with no relief. The infection induced severe fatigue and cognitive impairment that prevented her from working, and required her to sleep up to 18 hours per day. Finally, a physician recommended hyperbaric oxygen therapy with antibiotics, which after 60 treatments, healed her. Shortly after being healed, she sold her home to begin her first hyperbaric oxygen therapy clinic, which she has owned for almost 25 years!
  • Unbranded
    Jennifer, 68
    Hyperbaric oxygen therapy eliminated the need for surgery to heal her bone infection.
    Jennifer had osteomyelitis of the lower jaw (mandible), which proved difficult to heal. Her teeth were becoming loose, and her doctor thought she would need surgery. However, he prescribed hyperbaric oxygen therapy before the surgery, and after 60 treatments, her chronic refractory osteomyelitis healed completely, regrowing bone in her mandible. Jennifer was able to keep her teeth, and was able to return to her active lifestyle, hiking regularly with her husband.

Physicians: Refer a Patient

Refer a patient in three easy steps.
1

You Submit Your Patient’s Information

As a provider, your office fills out and faxes back the Patient Referral Form. Have questions? Call us!
2

We Get Authorizations

We ensure the patient understands the treatment and follows the prescribed protocol to get the patient on the road to recovery!
3

Patient Starts HBOT

Our medical staff meets with the patient to ensure that HBOT treatment is appropriate and contacts Medicare or private insurance to receive authorization.

Research on Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy

To learn more about HBOT, take a look at our FAQs.
  • What is Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy?
    Hyperbaric oxygen therapy treats medical conditions with 100% oxygen in a pressurized hyperbaric chamber. The patient lies or sits in the chamber. The oxygen then saturates the plasma in the blood, allowing oxygen to easily flow throughout the body and reach even areas that are injured or diseased, which typically receive less oxygen. The mechanisms of hyperbaric oxygen therapy include stimulating and mobilizing stem cells, down-regulating inflammatory genes, up-regulating reproductive cells and stimulating DNA. HBOT also regrows tiny blood vessels, and stimulates the growth of new healthy cells in the brain, bones, skin, organs, and tissues. People seek hyperbaric oxygen therapy to heal physical damage in their bodies and to promoting health and anti-aging.
  • Does HBOT kill cancer cells?
    Current research indicates that hyperbaric oxygen does not kill cancer cells. However, there has been a small amount of research indicating that hyperbaric oxygen might reduce the size of certain tumors. Also, there has been a study on mice using hyperbaric oxygen, along with a ketogenic diet, to reduce tumors. Hyperbaric oxygen causes many different healing modalities to kick into gear. Could its effect on strengthening the immune system inhibit the growth of cancer cells? Nobody knows. There are numerous studies conclusively showing that hyperbaric oxygen does not encourage cancer cells or tumors to grow. Some patients claim the hyperbaric oxygen makes them feel a lot more comfortable and functional after chemotherapy and also during healing. Note that some chemotherapy drugs are not to be used with hyperbaric oxygen, as the chemotherapy drugs can be enhanced and thus become toxic. A good hyperbaric oxygen facility (such as Bay Area Hyperbarics) will always call the chemotherapy manufacturer to ensure that hyperbaric oxygen therapy will be helpful and not damaging to the patient.
  • IWhat is the CPT code for HBOT?
    The CPT code for HBOT is G0277.
  • Does Medicare cover HBOT?
    Medicare covers Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy for approved conditions, and many insurance companies also cover approved conditions. If your condition is not approved by your insurance, we can discuss our special rates. Give us a call at (408) 356–7438. We are happy to discuss your options with you.
  • Can HBOT help Neuropathy?
    Hyperbaric treatments help heal neuropathy by regrowing small blood vessels and nerves that have died from disease, injuries from radiation and aging. Patients often experience numbness and or pain when they start treatment. Hyperbaric treatments most often bring back sensation and make, for example, walking easier and more enjoyable.
  • Why would a physician consider HBOT?
    A physician would consider using hyperbaric chamber therapy under a variety of situations. Physicians most typically refer patients to hyperbarics when the patient is not healing with traditional medical interventions and hyperbaric chamber therapy is approved by Medicare for this condition. Some patients experience significant unresolved pain and unremitting disease states that the mechanisms of hyperbaric oxygen therapy in a hyperbaric chamber are known to affect, such as the down regulation of inflamatory genes. For an example, some patients have experienced severe, unremitting hives with itching, which did not improve with any specialists interventions. Some physicians will consider hyperbaric chamber therapy if the patient has no other good avenues for improving their failing health, and they know the hyperbaric chamber therapy is safe and will not harm the patient.
  • What is Hypebaric Oxygen Therapy?
    Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HB0T) is a medical treatment where you inhale 100% oxygen in a chamber with increased atmospheric pressure. HBOT injects 400x the oxygen into your tissues and bones and mobilizes stem cells. It regrows healthy tissues in the brain, blood vessels, skin and bones. It also reduces pain and swelling, and speeds recovery. It is simple, effective and painless.

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