Services & Treatments

Crohn's and Ulcerative Colitis

Treating and managing life with chronic Inflammatory Bowel Disease

What are Crohn's and Ulcerative Colitis?

Crohn’s and Ulcerative Colitis are both types of chronic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) thought to be the product of an overactive immune system, wherein the body mistakenly attacks healthy cells in the intestines.

In Crohn’s patients, the disease can affect any part of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract but it most commonly presents in the small intestine and the colon separately or in combination. As opposed to Crohn’s, which can present anywhere from the mouth to anus, the disease is limited to the colon in Ulcerative Colitis patients.

Although there is no cure that medication can provide for inflammatory bowel disease, many people live with the disease in remission. If you think you may be suffering from Crohn’s or Colitis, talk to your doctor about which treatment or combination of treatments will work best for you.

Symptoms of inflammatory bowel disease

Inflammatory bowel disease affects people in different ways. A patient suffering from it may exhibit several of these symptoms or just a few:

Abdominal pain
Anemia
Diarrhea
Fistulas
Rectal bleeding
Ulcers
Vomiting
Weight loss
Treatment

Medication

Options for Managing Your IBD

According to the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation website the following five types of medication are most commonly used to treat inflammatory bowel disease:

Aminosalicylates – Treats mild to moderate flare-ups and can be effective for maintaining remission.
Corticosteroids – Used for short-term treatments of acute flare-ups, but cannot prevent flare-ups and is not recommended for long-term, repeated use.
Immunomodulators – Used to treat patients who do not respond to other drugs or who have certain medical conditions.
Antibiotics – Believed to control bacteria production in the intestines and suppress the immune system. Can be an effective, long-term treatment for some patients.
Biologic therapies – This is the newest class of drug currently being used to treat inflammatory bowel disease. The drugs interfere, at the molecular level, with the body’s inflammatory response process.

All of these medications can have potential side effects. Patients should visit their doctor for regular checkups and report any adverse side effects immediately.

Surgery

Common Surgeries for Treating Crohn's

Although medication is typically the first line of treatment for Crohn’s, many who suffer from the disease will undergo surgery as a part of their treatment at some point. It can often relieve pain or the need for steroids and patients can go on to lead healthy lives. Unfortunately, after surgery, Crohn’s can come back to affect a previously healthy part of the intestine, and 50% of patients who undergo surgery will experience a flare-up within five years of the operation.

Common surgeries for Crohn’s include:

Strictureplasty – Widens the diseased area that is blocking the passage of digested food so that food can pass through without cramping.
Resection – Removal of the diseased part of the intestine and connection of the two healthy sections. Disease sometimes recurs at or near the site of the resection.
Colectomy or Proctocolectomy – removal of the colon or removal of the colon and rectum. In a colectomy, the entire colon is removed. The small intestine can sometimes be connected to the rectum, facilitating normal bowel movements. In a proctocolectomy both the colon and rectum are removed. The end of the small intestine is then pushed through a hole in the abdominal wall for waste removal. An external bag must be worn and emptied throughout the day but is virtually unnoticeable under clothes.
Surgery for abscesses and fistulas – Sometimes surgery is necessary to drain an abscess or to remove fistulas (abnormal tunnels connecting the intestines to other organs in the body) that are not responding to medication. To remove fistulas, a resection is performed.

Between 25% and 40% of Ulcerative Colitis patients will eventually opt for surgery. However, unlike Crohn’s, once the diseased portion is removed from a Colitis patient, they are considered to be cured. The usual surgery performed is a proctocolectomy which removes the colon and rectum.

Restorative proctocolectomy is becoming increasingly popular because it allows patients to preserve bowel integrity and does not require an external bag to collect waste.

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease

Treating and managing life with GERD

What is GERD?

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (acid reflux disease or GERD) can interfere with your lifestyle, disrupt your sleep, and make dinner plans a pain. Heartburn, the painful, burning sensation in your chest, is the most common symptom of the disease. In fact, pain from heartburn can be so severe that it is often mistaken for a heart attack.

If you think you may have GERD, speak with an East Jefferson General Hospital physician. He or she will have the tools to properly diagnose the disease and begin administering proper treatment.

Other symptoms of GERD:

Difficulty swallowing
Persistent belching
Regurgitation
Damage to tooth enamel due to acid regurgitation
Sore throat
Wheezing
Chronic coughing
Hoarseness

Where do I start?

Lifestyle changes can help manage GERD

There are some lifestyle changes patients suffering from GERD can do to lessen the painful effects of the disease and suppress flare-ups. For instance, certain foods can irritate the condition, so people with GERD should avoid caffeine, peppermint, spicy foods, acidic foods like oranges and tomato-based sauces, fried foods, and alcohol. Smoking and carrying excess weight can also contribute to discomfort as can eating large portions at one sitting or lying down too quickly after a meal.

Breakthrough technology

Stretta treatment for GERD

Stretta Treatment is a breakthrough technology for the treatment of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD). Stretta Treatment uses radio frequency energy administered through a small catheter to strengthen the lower esophageal sphincter, allowing for the reduction or elimination of gastrointestinal reflux. Often, lifestyle and diet management or medications can manage GERD symptoms, but for some, a minimally invasive technique such as Stretta Treatment or even surgery may be an option.

For more information or to find a physician who specializes in the Stretta Treatment, call 504.503.7000.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Understanding and treating your IBS

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a common disorder of the large intestines.
IBS may lead to cramping, gassiness, bloating and changes in bowel habits. Some people with IBS have constipation, others have diarrhea and some people experience both.

As opposed to other intestinal conditions, such as Crohn’s or Ulcerative Colitis, IBS does not cause inflammation of the intestines or permanent damage. Managing diet and limiting stress can control most of the symptoms caused by IBS.

East Jefferson General Hospital nutritionists will work with your GI physician to develop a clinically sound diet that can help to control your symptoms of IBS.