Crohn’s and Ulcerative Colitis
Crohn’s and ulcerative colitis are painful and distressing chronic gastrointestinal disorders. If you have one of these diseases and no other treatments are working, the board-certified Arizona Preferred Surgeons team in Glendale, Arizona, can help. They offer a range of advanced surgeries to improve, maybe even eliminate, your symptoms. Call their office today or book an appointment online to learn more about why you should choose Arizona Preferred Surgeons for your Crohn’s and ulcerative colitis surgery.
Crohn’s and Ulcerative Colitis Q & A
What are Crohn’s and ulcerative colitis?
Crohn’s and ulcerative colitis are the primary inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) conditions. They are both autoimmune disorders, which means a fault in your immune system is the underlying cause.
Crohn’s and ulcerative colitis affect your gastrointestinal system. Crohn’s disease can cause problems the entire length of the digestive tract. Ulcerative colitis is restricted to the colon (large bowel) and rectum.
What symptoms do Crohn’s and ulcerative colitis cause?
Crohn’s and ulcerative colitis cause many symptoms, including:
- Abdominal pain
- Rectal bleeding
- Diarrhea
- Cramping
- Fecal incontinence
- Rectal pain
- Blood, pus, or mucus in the stool
- Tenesmus (an uncontrollable urge to strain during bowel movements)
Crohn’s and ulcerative colitis can also cause tiredness, skin conditions, sore eyes, and fever. Some symptoms are more common in one disease than the other. For instance, people with ulcerative colitis rarely get a fistula (an unnatural passage between the intestines and other organs). But they’re common with Crohn’s disease.
Many people with Crohn’s and ulcerative colitis find they can manage their symptoms using various medications. These include anti-inflammatories and drugs that suppress your immune system. However, you might need surgery if you can’t get relief from your symptoms from these treatments.
What surgery might I need for Crohn’s and ulcerative colitis?
The Arizona Preferred Surgeons team offers several surgeries to treat Crohn’s and ulcerative colitis. These include:
Strictureplasty
Strictureplasty widens parts of your intestine that have become so narrow they can cause a blockage.
Fistula surgery
Fistula surgery might involve closing, opening, removing, or draining a fistula that won’t heal with other treatments.
Colectomy
Colectomy involves removing a badly diseased colon but leaving the rectum.
Proctocolectomy
Proctocolectomy removes both colon and rectum when both are too diseased to be saved.
Bowel resection
Bowel resection is where your surgeon removes the damaged or diseased part of your intestine and attaches the two healthy ends on either side.
Abscess drainage
If you have an abscess (a painful, pus-filled swelling), your surgeon cuts into it and inserts a tube to drain the pus.
Ileostomy
An ileostomy is an intestinal bypass. Your surgeon joins the colon or small intestine to a stoma, a hole placed surgically in your abdomen. Waste goes into a bag (colostomy) connected to the stoma. Some ileostomies are temporary while your tissues heal, while others are permanent.
Pelvic pouch or ileal pouch anal anastomosis (IPAA)
IPAA is the primary surgery for severe ulcerative colitis. Your surgeon removes your colon and rectum but saves your anus and the anal sphincter muscles. They create a J-shaped pouch that links the small intestine to your anus so that you can pass stools normally.
To find out how you could benefit from surgery for Crohn’s and ulcerative colitis, call Arizona Preferred Surgeons today or book an appointment online.