Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)

What is IBD?

Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) is a term used to cover two conditions, ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn’s disease (CD), in which both the large and small bowel can become inflamed, causing significant problems.

These conditions can affect other parts of the body as well, but bowel-related symptoms are most common. An increasing number of patients can be treated with advanced drugs, and we are working closely with gastroenterologists (bowel specialist physicians) who are leaders in this field.

However if the inflammation is uncontrollable, or if either cancer or precancerous lesions are detected in the bowel, then surgery will be necessary.

How do I know that I have IBD?

Symptoms can start at a young age, or during adolescence. Most patients experience bowel-related symptoms, including:

Abdominal pain
Diarrhoea
Bleeding from the rectum
Other symptoms can include weight loss and tiredness.

In order to get a conclusive diagnosis, you should contact your GP or a specialist gastrointestinal doctor.

They’ll discuss your symptoms with you (family history can also be a factor in IBD), but the most important diagnostic tool is a camera test (called a colonoscopy) and tissue biopsies which are used to to confirm the diagnosis.

When should I see a surgeon?

In most cases, your gastroenterologist will refer you to a surgeon if they are concerned about the progression of the disease. In many cases it makes sense to talk to a surgeon at an early stage, ideally with your gastroenterologist present.

At CRSC, we offer combined clinics with surgeons and consultant gastroenterologists such as Professor Stuart Bloom, below, to make sure you get the best possible personalised treatment plan.

Why robotic surgery?

Put simply, we believe that robotic surgery helps us to achieve better outcomes for our patients. That’s why our mission is to make robotic surgery available to all.

No two patients are the same, and our approach to surgery for IBD will be tailored to your individual conditions and the progression of your disease.

While many surgeons prefer open surgery, we believe that patients benefit most from the smaller incisions we can achieve with robot surgery. This means less bleeding, less pain and, ultimately, a quicker recovery.

From partial or complete removal of the colon and rectum to pouch surgery, we offer a wide range of procedures to suit your individual circumstances and needs. Get in touch to book a consultation and find out more.

Book an appointment

To book a consultation with the Colorectal & Robotic Surgery Centre, you can phone, email or use our online form.

Email: crsc@hcahealthcare.co.uk

Call: +44 20 3214 3440