IBD Dilatations
IBD (Inflammatory Bowel Disease) dilatations refer to medical procedures used to widen narrowed areas within the intestines in patients with IBD. This procedure aims to relieve symptoms and improve the passage of stool.
IBD dilatations are endoscopic procedures performed to stretch or widen narrowed areas (strictures) in the intestines that can occur due to inflammation and scarring from IBD. This helps restore normal bowel function and alleviate symptoms such as pain, obstruction, or difficulty in passing stools.
Why Do You Do This Procedure?
IBD dilatations are performed to:
- Alleviate symptoms of bowel obstruction, such as cramping, abdominal pain, and bloating, which can occur when a stricture prevents stool from passing through the intestines.
- Prevent complications that may arise from untreated strictures, including complete bowel obstruction or perforation (a hole in the bowel wall).
- Improve quality of life by reducing the need for repeated surgical interventions in patients with chronic IBD.
When Does This Procedure Happen?
IBD dilatations may be considered when:
- Symptoms such as pain and obstruction persist or worsen despite medical treatment.
- A patient with known IBD develops new symptoms consistent with a stricture, such as changes in bowel habits, weight loss, and abdominal distension.
- The narrowing is identified through imaging studies like a CT scan, MRI, or endoscopic evaluation.
What Condition Does This Treat?
IBD dilatations primarily treat strictures in the intestines caused by IBD, including:
- Crohn’s disease: Strictures are common in Crohn’s disease, often affecting the small intestine or the colon. These strictures can lead to obstruction and require intervention to relieve symptoms.
- Ulcerative colitis: Strictures are less common in ulcerative colitis but can occur, particularly in severe cases with extensive disease.
- Symptoms of stricture: Narrowing can cause symptoms like abdominal pain, cramping, bloating, and changes in bowel habits, including constipation or diarrhoea.
- Endoscopic balloon dilatation: The most common method used to dilate strictures, where a balloon-tipped catheter is inserted through the endoscope and inflated at the narrowed site to stretch the area.
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