Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease are the most common forms of inflammatory bowel disease. These conditions cause chronic inflammation of the digestive tract, which can result in diarrhea, frequent bowel movements, bloody bowel movements and abdominal pain.

Crohn's disease may occur at any location in the digestive tract and involves the full thickness of the intestinal wall. This disease pattern can result in bowel obstruction from scarring, painful inflammatory masses in the abdomen, abscesses and fistulae (connection between structures that shouldn't be connected). Alternatively, ulcerative colitis usually affects the mucosa (lining) of the colon and rectum and presents with bloody diarrhea.

Medical therapy is the initial treatment for both types of IBD. We work closely with your gastroenterologists to explore surgical options when medications no longer control disease activity.