Growing evidence supports HBOT alongside gastroenterology care in selected IBD patients, including ulcerative colitis flares and perianal Crohn’s disease. At NUMA, HBOT is medically assessed, prescribed and supervised.
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) mainly includes ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease. Both are chronic, relapsing inflammatory conditions that can cause abdominal pain, diarrhoea, rectal bleeding, fatigue, weight loss and significant disruption to daily life.
A systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical studies in IBD found encouraging outcomes with HBOT, particularly in ulcerative colitis. Its effects may involve improved tissue oxygenation, modulation of inflammatory signalling, epithelial repair, angiogenesis and the local microbial environment, supporting its use in appropriately selected patients and continued clinical research.
Singh et al. · 2021 · European Journal of Gastroenterology & Hepatology
In a randomised controlled trial of patients hospitalised with moderate-to-severe ulcerative colitis, 50% of those receiving HBOT alongside intravenous steroids achieved clinical remission by day 5, compared with none receiving steroids plus sham treatment. Fewer patients receiving HBOT also required escalation to second-line therapy.
In the HOT-TOPIC study, 20 patients with Crohn’s disease and perianal fistulas that had not responded to conventional treatment received 40 HBOT sessions. At 16 weeks, 60% had a clinical response and 20% achieved clinical remission, with 65% showing inactive perianal disease. Improvements were largely maintained at one year.
Lansdorp et al. · 2022 · United European Gastroenterology Journal
A systematic review and meta-analysis of 19 studies involving 809 patients found substantial rates of clinical remission following HBOT across multiple forms of IBD, including ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease. Larger controlled trials are needed to confirm these findings.
HBOT is an investigational adjunct in IBD care, not an established treatment for the condition. It should not replace or delay gastroenterology-led treatment, urgent assessment or surgery when required. Suitability and individual outcomes vary.
An evidence-led review of HBOT research in inflammatory bowel disease, distinguishing preliminary findings from established clinical evidence and setting out where HBOT sits alongside gastroenterology-led care.
Every HBOT programme begins with an individual medical assessment. The protocols below reflect those used in published research and are not universal recommendations: treatment is prescribed according to the disease phenotype, clinical presentation and stage of care, in coordination with the gastroenterology team.
Trials have used 90-minute sessions on consecutive days, alongside intravenous corticosteroids.
Studies of chronic, refractory complications have generally used longer courses, with participants remaining on stable standard treatment.
Any course requires individual medical assessment and should be planned with the gastroenterology and surgical teams involved in your care.
Every treatment plan is personalised. The number, frequency and timing of HBOT sessions vary according to individual clinical circumstances and may change as treatment progresses.
HBOT is a medical treatment that requires specialist assessment and prescription to ensure it is safe, appropriate and tailored to individual clinical needs. For IBD, treatment is provided alongside gastroenterology-led care, never in place of it. A consultation with our specialist medical doctor includes:
Don't just take our word for it — hear directly from patients who have completed treatment with us.
A review of the current research into HBOT as an adjunct to established care for ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease, including what the evidence does and does not yet show.
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Understand the safety risks of non-medical hyperbaric treatment and why patient assessment, clinical-grade equipment and specialist medical supervision are essential for safe HBOT.
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Learn what happens during your consultation, how treatment suitability is assessed and what to expect from care delivered under medical oversight at NUMA.
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NUMA is a consultant-led specialist HBOT clinic focused exclusively on medical hyperbaric oxygen therapy. Our service combines medical oversight, personalised treatment planning and purpose-built facilities designed to support safe and high-standard care.
