Digestive diseases is regarded to affect millions of American people in the recent years. Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) is a prevalent digestive ailment in which chronic inflammation occurs in all or part of the digestive tract. IBD, which can be diagnosed at any age, most often affects people between 15 and 35 years old but has even been found in children as young as 18 months old, according to medical records. The factors increasing the risk of IBD still remains unknown. However, experts believed that the disease is caused by a combination of genetic and non-genetic factors (environmental factors) that interacts with the body’s immune system.
Patients can experience symptoms ranging from mild to severe. However, it is likely for a symptoms to come and go , sometimes going away for months or even years at a time. But there is a possibility that the symptoms will come back and that time, patients are believed to be having an attack or flare-up. IBD primarily includes ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease. Debilitating pain, as well as life-threatening complications, may be experienced by the patient.
The top layer of the large intestine is targeted in ulcerative colitis. The disease causes swelling and tiny open sores, or ulcers, to form on the surface of the lining. The ulcers can bleed and produce pus. Severe ulcerative colitis may reduce the strength of the intestinal wall where a hole develops. This spills the contents of the large intestine, including the bacteria, into the abdominal cavity or into the bloodstream. This causes a serious infection and requires emergency surgery.
All layers of the intestinal wall area afflicted in Crohn’s disease. Areas of the intestines most often affected are the last part of the small intestine, called the ileum, and the first part of the large intestine. Any part of the digestive tract, from the mouth to anus, are affected by Crohn’s disease.
You are a candidate to undergo minimally invasive surgical option known as da Vinci surgery if your surgeon recommends surgery for inflammatory bowel disease. A surgical robotic system is used during da Vinci surgery. Not only is robotic surgery used in inflammatory bowel diseases but it can also be used in different complex surgeries. Before undergoing a robotic surgery, FDA tells patientsto talk to their respective doctor in order to determine if da Vinci is the best surgical procedure for them.
References:
womenshealth.gov/publications/our-publications/fact-sheet/inflammatory-bowel-disease.cfm
mayoclinic.com/health/inflammatory-bowel-disease/DS01195
medicinenet.com/inflammatory_bowel_disease_intestinal_problems/article.htm
nhs.uk/conditions/inflammatory-bowel-disease/Pages/Introduction.aspx
cpmc.org/services/surgery/robotic/conditions/ibd.htm
