Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Overview:

Advanced medical therapies for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and related conditions include biologics, small molecule inhibitors, and immunomodulatory agents. These treatments target specific pathways in the immune system to reduce inflammation, promote healing, and prevent flare-ups. They are tailored to each patient’s disease severity and response, offering effective long-term management when standard medications are not sufficient.

Conditions Treated:

• Crohn’s disease
• Ulcerative colitis
• Immune-mediated gastrointestinal inflammation

Overview:

Chromoendoscopy is an enhanced colonoscopy technique that uses special dyes or digital contrast to highlight abnormal areas of the colon lining. This approach improves detection of precancerous or dysplastic tissue, especially in patients with inflammatory bowel disease. The procedure allows for targeted biopsies, providing a more accurate evaluation of mucosal health and cancer risk.

Conditions Evaluated:

• Inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis)
• Colorectal dysplasia or cancer surveillance

Overview:

Colonic resection, or colectomy, involves surgically removing a portion of the colon affected by disease, obstruction, or cancer. The remaining sections are reconnected to maintain intestinal function. This procedure may be done laparoscopically or through open surgery and is often used when inflammation, bleeding, or structural damage cannot be managed with medication alone.

Conditions Treated:

• Colorectal cancer
• Severe inflammatory bowel disease
• Diverticulitis or bowel obstruction
• Ischemic or damaged colon segments

Overview:

A colonoscopy allows your provider to examine the inside of the large intestine using a long, flexible tube with a light and tiny camera. During the procedure, the scope is gently inserted through the rectum and advanced through the colon while air or carbon dioxide is used to expand the space for clear viewing.

Polyps may be removed, and small tissue samples can be collected for testing. This helps detect bleeding, inflammation, or precancerous growths early, often preventing colorectal cancer and guiding treatment for chronic digestive issues.

Conditions Diagnosed:

• Colorectal cancer and polyps
• Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)
• Unexplained bleeding or anemia
• Chronic diarrhea or constipation

Overview:

Dysplasia screening is performed to detect precancerous changes in the colon lining, especially in patients with long-standing inflammatory bowel disease. Using high-definition scopes and advanced imaging, physicians carefully examine the colon for subtle lesions or abnormal tissue. Early detection of dysplasia allows for timely treatment and reduces the risk of colorectal cancer.

Conditions Evaluated:

• Ulcerative colitis (long duration)
• Crohn’s colitis
• Increased colorectal cancer risk

Overview:

Stricture dilation is a minimally invasive procedure that widens narrowed areas of the digestive tract caused by inflammation, scarring, or prior surgery. Using an endoscope, the physician inflates a small balloon or passes a flexible dilator through the narrowed segment to restore normal passage of food or stool and relieve symptoms like pain or blockage.

Conditions Treated:

• Crohn’s disease–related strictures
• Postsurgical or anastomotic narrowing
• Esophageal, small bowel, or colonic strictures

Overview:

Stricture resection is a surgical procedure to remove a severely narrowed or damaged section of the intestine when other treatments are not effective. The healthy ends are reconnected to restore normal digestion. This operation relieves obstruction, pain, and inflammation while preserving as much healthy bowel as possible, often improving long-term quality of life.

Conditions Treated:

• Severe Crohn’s disease strictures
• Fibrotic or recurrent intestinal narrowing
• Bowel obstruction

Overview:

Strictureplasty is a bowel-sparing surgical technique used to widen narrowed sections of the intestine without removing any part of it. The surgeon reshapes the affected segment to restore normal flow while preserving bowel length. This approach is especially useful for patients with multiple Crohn’s disease–related strictures where maintaining intestinal continuity is important.

Conditions Treated:

• Crohn’s disease with intestinal strictures
• Small bowel narrowing causing obstruction

Overview:

An EGD, which stands for esophagogastroduodenoscopy. It is a medical procedure used to examine the lining of your upper digestive tract. This includes your

• Esophagus: The muscular tube that connects your throat to your stomach
• Stomach: The muscular sac where food is broken down
• Duodenum: The first part of your small intestine