At the Feinstein IBD Center, we strongly believe that a collaborative team that includes physicians and surgeons provides the best care possible. That’s why there is a surgeon physically on site every day to be involved in your care, should it come to that. If your medical team determines that your care cannot progress without surgery, the surgeons and the physicians will work together to create a treatment plan that restores your quality of life.

For example, when symptoms of Crohn’s disease do not respond to medication, your doctor may recommend surgery — especially if you’re experiencing complications such as fistulas, infections or narrowing of the bowel. Your surgeon may recommend removing the damaged part of your intestine and connecting the two healthy ends. You may also benefit from surgery to close fistulas, remove scar tissue or drain abscesses. If a segment of your intestine has become too narrow, you may require a procedure to widen the affected area. Although surgery will not cure Crohn’s disease, it often can greatly improve your quality of life. After surgery, our gastroenterologists will devise a treatment plan to prevent the Crohn’s disease from returning.

If you have ulcerative colitis, your doctor may recommend surgery in some cases, especially if your symptoms persist or worsen despite medical therapy. If serious complications, drug side effects develop, if cancerous or precancerous changes occur in your colon, we use both open surgery and the most advanced minimally invasive techniques to treat ulcerative colitis.

Minimally invasive surgery generally uses small "keyhole" incisions as opposed to a large open incision. Through ports in these incisions, your surgeon inserts surgical instruments and a tiny camera. The camera transmits images to a computer monitor, where your surgeon uses them for guidance throughout the procedure. Minimally invasive techniques have many benefits, such as shorter hospital stays, less pain and a faster recovery time.

Other GI surgeries that can restore your quality of life include:

• Laparoscopic Surgeries
• Intestinal Resection
• Ileal Pouch
• Colectomy
• Strictureplasty
• Small Bowel Rehabilitation
• Enterostomal Therapy