Inflammatory bowel disease, or IBD, is the name of a category of diseases characterized by chronic inflammation in different parts of the intestinal tract. The most common IBDs are ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease.
Ulcerative colitis is a condition that results in inflammation in the innermost lining of the large intestine and rectum. Its symptoms mainly include diarrhea, fatigue, abdominal pain, weight loss, and blood in the stool.
Crohn’s disease is also an inflammatory disorder of the bowel. It mainly impacts the ileum and the colon. This condition usually results in fistulae and ulcers. A fistula is defined as an abnormal connection between tissues and glands or organs of the body. An ulcer, on the other hand, refers to a persistent soreness in the GI tract. Symptoms of Crohn’s disease are pretty similar to those of ulcerative colitis.
Surgical options
A surgeon may choose from several surgical options to treat IBD. He will make a choice depending on every case. The main aim is to improve the quality of life.
The plan to treat your IBD will depend on several factors, including the kind of IBD you have, the severity of your symptoms, the part of the GI tract affected, and the types of complications you have.
Surgical options for Crohn’s disease
Surgery is the most likely option to treat moderate to severe Crohn’s disease. According to the NIH, about 70% to 90% of Crohn’s disease patients will require surgery during their lifetime. The most common surgeries performed to treat this condition include stricturoplaty and resection. Other options include colectomy and abscess or fistula surgery.
Surgical options for ulcerative colitis
There are generally two surgical options to treat ulcerative colitis: restorative proctocolectomy and proctocolectomy with an ileostomy.
Restorative proctocolectomy, also known as ileal pouch-anal anastomosis (IPAA), is one of the most common treatment options for ulcerative colitis. During this procedure, both the rectum and colon are removed. The surgeon then creates a pouch by folding the end of the small intestine. This pouch is then connected to the anal canal. Doctors prefer this option more because provides quick and permanent relief to the patient and helps improve the quality of life.
Another option to treat ulcerative colitis is proctocolectomy with an ileostomy. During this procedure, the surgeon removes the colon and rectum and brings the end of the small intestine out through a cut in the belly to create a stoma. This way, the lower part of the GI tract is completely bypassed. Waste materials pass out through the stoma and fall into a bag adhered to the peristomal skin. This option is the last resort for a worsened case of ulcerative colitis.
No matter how improved a surgical procedure is, it cannot restore the quality of life to the fullest. Nonetheless, a patient may have an even more improved quality of life compared to the pre-surgery situation, because the condition that necessitates bowel surgery tends to be more uncomfortable.
If you have any form of IBD, make sure to discuss with your doctor the treatment plan.
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