Surgery should be looked at as a therapeutic option rather than as a failure of therapy. Indeed, the goal of surgery is to improve quality of life and help patients lead healthier, more active lifestyles. For example, if only a short segment of your small intestine is affected by Crohn’s disease, you may benefit from surgery without the exposure to potentially harmful side effects of medications. Although the use of medications such as biologics or immunomodulators can be indispensable for many patients, their prolonged use in the setting of a poor response may delay surgery, and as a result, may increase the risk for complications. Optimal timing of surgery insures the best quality of life. While surgery is not the first approach used to treat Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis, it can greatly restore quality of life in people who are struggling to get better despite medical treatment.
Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a group of chronic diseases in which the body’s immune system attacks bacteria in the intestine causing inflammation. The most common symptoms are diarrhea and abdominal pain. IBD is a chronic disease that has no cure, but it can be controlled by medications and lifestyle changes including diet and reducing stress.
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NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital answeredSee All 2 AnswersSome studies suggest that fertility may be decreased after an ileoanal pouch procedure, but this by no means suggests that women who have undergone this procedure can't have children. Indeed, many woman of child-bearing age have spontaneously conceived and given birth successfully after this procedure. It is possible that pelvic scarring may be the cause of this decreased fertility, and therefore the current laparoscopic techniques are attractive in that they reduce the amount of internal scarring. -
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See All 3 AnswersIn this video, Scott Choi, MD from StoneSprings Hospital Center, explains the various treatments, including different classes of medications, used in the management of Inflammatory Bowel Disease.
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NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital answeredSee All 6 Answers
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a common condition affecting more than one million people in the United States.
There are two Components of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD):
- Ulcerative colitis – inflammation of the innermost lining of the large intestine and/or rectum
- Crohn's disease – inflammation of the lining and walls of the large and/or small intestine. It may also affect other parts of the digestive system and can spread deep into the tissue.
Traditionally, these two conditions were thought to be distinct types of IBD. However, researchers are beginning to think of IBD as a spectrum (or range) of diseases that affect the intestines. Thus, some people may only have symptoms of ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease, while others may have symptoms of both conditions (known as "indeterminate colitis"). -
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NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital answeredSee All 5 Answers
Inflammatory bowel disease is associated with an increased lifetime risk for colorectal cancer.
Over time, the inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract can lead to abnormal changes in the cells called dysplasia, which are a warning sign of cancer.
While the majority of patients with IBD will never develop colorectal cancer, it is important to attend your regular checkups so that your doctor can screen for cancer.
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Dr. Howard I. Baron, MD , Pediatric Gastroenterology, answered on behalf of Sunrise Hospital & Medical CenterSee All 2 AnswersChildren can have inflammatory bowel disease, says Howard Baron, MD, a pediatric gastroenterologist at Sunrise Hospital. In this video, he explains how these diseases might go unnoticed because of the patient's age.
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Johns Hopkins Medicine answeredSee All 2 AnswersCrohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, the most common types of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), affect about 140,000 children annually.
These chronic diseases cause inflammation and ulceration in the inner lining of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. As with adults, children’s initial symptoms - persistent diarrhea, abdominal pain, rectal bleeding and weight loss - can recur each time the disease flares.
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Dr. Darria Long Gillespie, MD , Emergency Medicine, answeredVedolizumab (Entyvio) and natalizumab (Tysabri) are biologic drugs called integrin receptor antagonists, used to treat inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). These drugs block certain immune system processes that promote inflammation and damage intestines. They are given by injection.
Both of these drugs are approved by the FDA for treating active Crohn's disease in adults. Vedolizumab is also approved for treating active ulcerative colitis in adults. These drugs are used for people whose IBD has not been controlled with other drugs, such as corticosteroids, thiopurines, or TNF inhibitors, or for those who cannot take the other drugs due to side effects. Neither drug is approved for treatment of children.
This answer was adapted from Sharecare's award-winning AskMD app. Start a consultation now to find out what's causing your symptoms, learn how to manage a condition, or find a doctor. -
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Dr. Darria Long Gillespie, MD , Emergency Medicine, answeredVaricella (chickenpox) vaccine has caused Reye syndrome, a serious illness that can affect the brain and liver, in some people taking aminosalicylates. Varicella vaccination should be avoided while taking an aminosalicylate and for 6 weeks after stopping one.
If you are taking heparin, methotrexate, or a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, sulfasalazine may not be a good option for you.
This answer was adapted from Sharecare's award-winning AskMD app. Start a consultation now to find out what's causing your symptoms, learn how to manage a condition, or find a doctor. -
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Dr. Darria Long Gillespie, MD , Emergency Medicine, answeredAminosalicylates are drugs related to aspirin that help reduce inflammation caused by inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Mesalamine is the most commonly used aminosalicylate. It can be taken by mouth, as a rectal suppository, or as an enema. Other aminosalicylates are balsalazide (Colazal, Giazo), olsalazine (Dipentum), and sulfasalazine (Azulfidine). These drugs are taken by mouth.
Different forms of aminosalicylate drugs target specific parts of the digestive tract. Their use is based on the person's pattern of inflammation. Mesalamine suppositories (Canasa) and enemas (Rowasa) act mainly on the lower colon and rectum. Mesalamine delayed- or extended-release pills (Apriso, Asacol, Delzicol, Lialda) and other aminosalicylates act on the colon. Mesalamine controlled-release pills (Pentasa) act from the stomach to the rectum.
This answer was adapted from Sharecare's award-winning AskMD app. Start a consultation now to find out what's causing your symptoms, learn how to manage a condition, or find a doctor.