Crohn鈥檚 disease
Also known as: inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) treatment
At AOA体育平台 we provide a private Crohn鈥檚 disease treatment service. One of our world renowned specialists will see you at our comfortable state-of-the-art clinic near Harley Street. Why wait? Start your treatment journey today.
What is Crohn's disease?
At AOA体育平台 we offer the latest treatments for recovery and management of Crohn鈥檚 disease.
One of our specialists will tailor your treatment plan to include lifestyle changes, medication and surgery if you need it.
We aim to treat you as early as possible to avoid disease progression so you can get back to living life.
At AOA体育平台 your care team will support you to make any lifestyle changes such as quitting smoking or make changes to what you eat daily.
Your gastroenterologist will guide you on which medications you need to achieve remission and remain symptom free.
If you need surgery your gastroenterologist and colorectal surgeon will work as a team to carry out your procedure at our state-of-the-art private site near Harley Street.
By choosing AOA体育平台, you鈥檒l get a more compassionate and connected kind of care, from enhanced pre-admission through to aftercare and follow up.
Contact us today, so you can start your treatment journey and get back to living life.
What are the symptoms of Crohn鈥檚 disease?
Crohn鈥檚 disease causes inflammation, ulceration and bleeding along the digestive tract. This can be anywhere between the mouth and rectum.
The areas most commonly affected are the jejunum and ileum of the small intestine and the caceum of the large intestine.
You can have the condition but show no symptoms for several years, but many people first start showing symptoms in childhood.
Signs and symptoms can include:
- Abdominal pain
- Bloody diarrhoea
- Fatigue and weight loss
- Malnutrition
- High temperature
- Nausea
- Mouth ulcers
- Anaemia
Parts of the intestine can scar or narrow forming strictures. They can also fuse together forming fistulas which often need surgery to correct.
Around a third of people who have Crohn鈥檚 disease develop ankylosing spondylitis, a type of arthritis that affects your joints.
It鈥檚 not clear what causes Crohn鈥檚 disease but research suggests it develops due to a combination of environmental and genetic factors.
How is Crohn鈥檚 disease diagnosed?
Your gastroenterologist will diagnose your signs and symptoms by taking a full medical history and performing a physical examination.
You may need to have a blood and stool test to check for infection and inflammatory markers.
If your gastroenterologist needs to take a tissue sample (biopsy) and look at your intestines more closely they will do this through an endoscopy procedure.
An endoscope is a very thin flexible tube tipped with a camera.
Your gastroenterologist places the endoscope into your digestive tract either through the mouth or rectum. There are several types of endoscopy for Crohn鈥檚 disease:
- Gastroscopy (to examine your upper digestive tract and small intestine)
- Sigmoidoscopy (to examine the rectum and first part of the large intestine)
- Colonoscopy (to examine the entire large intestine)
- Capsule endoscopy (to examine the middle part of your small intestine)
When is surgery for Crohn鈥檚 disease necessary?
As medication and lifestyle management of Crohn鈥檚 disease becomes more effective, surgery is becoming less necessary.
If fistulas, abscesses or strictures develop in the intestines, these can block digestion or waste removal and you may need surgery.
Similarly, if parts of the intestine become precancerous or cancerous, surgery may be necessary.
At AOA体育平台 we pioneer minimally invasive surgery including AI guided keyhole surgery to treat strictures (narrowing) and abscesses for a faster recovery and better outcomes.
Strictureplasty is a type of keyhole surgery to repair strictures without having to remove any of the intestine. Your surgeon can also treat strictures using an endoscopic balloon dilation procedure where they insert a tiny balloon to open the stricture through an endoscope.
Some people need resection surgery which involves removing a portion of the intestine, or a complete removal of the large intestine (colectomy).
You may need surgery if:
- You develop complications e.g. strictures, fistulas, abscesses or perforations
- You develop precancerous or cancerous changes in the bowel
What are the benefits of Crohn鈥檚 disease treatment at AOA体育平台?
The treatment we offer will allow you to manage your symptoms more easily and get back to living a normal life sooner.
Early treatment and intervention can reduce flare ups and put the condition into remission for months or years.
At AOA体育平台 we aim to give you the best treatment tailored to suit you and your long term recovery.
We offer not just medical support but emotional and lifestyle support to help you on your road to recovery.
How long does it take to recover from Crohn鈥檚 disease?
When you start treatment your gastroenterologist will give you medication for any pain and bloody diarrhoea to normalise your movements and stop you feeling sick.
If your treatment includes immunosuppressants they can take two to three months to work at which point the inflammation will start to reduce and you should start to feel a lot better.
During your treatment your gastroenterologist will see you for regular checks to make sure your treatment is working well.
What are the side effects of Crohn鈥檚 disease treatment?
The treatments we offer for Crohn鈥檚 disease are the most up to date and are carefully balanced to treat your symptoms as effectively as possible.
Medications can cause side effects but we aim to minimise them as much as possible. Your gastroenterologist will bring you in for regular assessment and blood tests to check how you鈥檙e doing.
What can I expect from Crohn鈥檚 disease treatment at AOA体育平台?
At AOA体育平台 the gastroenterologists who treat Crohn鈥檚 disease are some of the most experienced in the UK.
They will guide you and make sure you have the right treatment that prevents flare ups and minimises the progression of your condition.
If you need a surgical procedure we have a state-of-the-art surgical suite near Harley Street where your surgeon can carry out your procedure.
We also provide nutrition and physical therapy services to help you with your diet and symptoms such as joint pain.
To make you feel more comfortable while you鈥檙e with us we offer extra touches like a concierge service.
You鈥檒l have a dedicated care team to look after you and support you during your recovery.