Inflammatory Bowel Disease

With Yale New Haven Health, patients have peace of mind knowing that they are getting the best care and treatment available. As leaders in IBD research and treatment, our patients have the opportunity to participate in clinical trials that offer new and advanced therapies. Our physicians conduct research at Yale School of Medicine, one of only six genetic research centers supported by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) seeking to advance the discovery of genes influencing an individual’s risk for developing ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease. Additionally, we offer opportunities for patients to participate in research studies evaluating mood disorders and IBD, and multi-center new drug and surgical treatment protocols for Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.

As leaders in their field, the gastroenterology team reviews difficult cases with colleagues from across the U.S., making is unnecessary for patients to seek a second opinion because it is included in our process. Other physicians and patients regularly turn to us for second opinions on diagnoses and assistance for complex cases.

An accurate diagnosis is most important, and there is no single test to diagnose Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis and other bowel diseases.

Only Yale New Haven Health offers a comprehensive process involving multiple diagnostic steps, where all information is evaluated by IBD specialists:

• Symptoms and medical history
• Blood tests
• Stool studies
• Imaging (Radiology)
  • Computed tomography enterography (CTE)
  • Magnetic resonance enterography (MRE))
• Advanced endoscopy (replaces basic colonoscopy)
  • Video capsule endoscopy
  • Chromo-endoscopy
  • Sigmoidoscopy (as a research protocol only)
• Biopsy and pathology review for pre-cancer and cancer screening

At Yale New Haven Health, our unique approach to treating Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis and other bowel diseases include a multidisciplinary team of specially trained IBD experts who meet weekly to develop the most comprehensive treatment plan for each patient.

Treatment for IBD usually begins with medications; however, surgery may be a primary therapy for certain symptoms of IBD. Surgery is often used in addition to or to supplement medical treatment. Our goal is to restore our patients’ quality of life, using bowel-conserving and minimally invasive surgeries where appropriate.

To administer select medications we offer infusion centers with an onsite pharmacy. A specially certified pharmacist mixes the complex medications needed for our IBD patients. Infusion nurses administer the medications and physicians continually monitor patients while they are undergoing treatment.