Our Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) Program at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi’s Digestive Disease Institute specializes in the diagnosis and management of inflammatory bowel disorders.
Patients with IBD receive care from a multidisciplinary team of specialists, who are experts in a wide range of therapies. Management options range from nutritional support and medications, to endoscopic or surgical treatment.
Our multidisciplinary team of IBD trained providers, which includes advanced nutrition experts and a dedicated IBD nurse coordinator, collaborate to create tailored treatment plans for each patient based on their disease type and their own individual case. Patients also benefit from our unique education and support program.
We work closely with the team at Cleveland Clinic, Ohio, so patients further benefit from collaborative clinical and research projects, which aim to improve the lives of IBD patients.
The term IBD refers to a group of conditions that involve chronic inflammation of the digestive tract. The two most common types of IBD are:
Proper diagnosis and assessment of IBD is critical to providing the right treatment, successfully managing the condition, and helping patients improve their quality of life.
Diagnosis of Inflammatory Bowel Disease
An accurate diagnosis is essential to being able to provide the best care for IBD patients. IBD is a complex condition and sometimes a diagnosis can take time. Some conditions may symptomatically mimic IBD, and doctors need to rule out other possible causes of symptoms. Our skilled team of experts specialize in the diagnosis of inflammatory bowel disease based on individual symptoms, clinical assessment and evaluation of test results.
Our IBD Program offers a variety of specialized diagnostic tests to help us properly assess the condition, including:
During these procedures, tissue samples can be obtained and analyzed in the lab for accurate diagnosis.
Capsule endoscopy: A test that involves swallowing a pill-shaped wireless camera. The camera takes pictures of the inside of the entire digestive tract and can help see areas of the bowel that are not visibly accessible through a regular endoscopy.
Magnetic Resonance Enterography (MRE): A non-invasive imaging test that takes pictures of the digestive tract, allowing physicians to identify abnormalities in the bowel.
CT scan: An imaging test that produces images of the organs and can detect complications of IBD, such as intestinal blockages.
Symptoms of Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Although every patient is different, some of the most common symptoms of IBD include abdominal pain, diarrhea, blood in the stool, fatigue or weight loss.
Some of the symptoms of IBD can also occur with other conditions, highlighting the importance of a proper diagnosis.
Treatment of Inflammatory Bowel Disease
There are many approaches to treating and managing IBD. These include:
Treatment of IBD involves several teams of caregivers working together to provide comprehensive and holistic care for our patients.
Members of the team include:
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