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Surgery for inflammatory bowel disease
Inflammatory bowel disease can be treated with surgery, including replacing your large intestine and rectum with a pouch
About IBD
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a common condition that affects the digestive system.
Symptoms include:
- stomach cramps
- bloating
- diarrhoea
- constipation.
While careful managing of diet can help, IBD is incurable. However, replacing your large intestine (colon) and rectum with a pouch made from a section of your small intestine can alleviate the symptoms, but only as a last resort.
Need to know
Under a general anaesthetic your consultant will remove the whole colon (large intestine) and your rectum and create an internal pouch, or reservoir, using your small intestine.
The pouch is connected to the anus and is used to store stools. The pouch is often referred to as a ‘J-pouch’ because of its shape. Surgery can be carried out either through open surgery or laparoscopic (keyhole) surgery.
The type of surgery you receive will depend on your circumstances and the surgeon you have. Your consultant will discuss the procedure with you prior to your operation.
The day before your surgery you will likely be asked to take a bowel preparation which will give you diarrhoea to clear the bowel of any faeces to make the operation easier.
You may also need to follow a specific diet and avoid some medications. As you'll be asleep during the procedure you should avoid eating or drinking in the hours before surgery.
You may need to stay in hospital for around a week. The length of your stay will also depend on whether you had open or laparoscopic surgery.
You may receive nutrition through an intravenous drip until your bowel has healed a little and you are able to drink more normally. You will probably be encouraged to eat and drink as soon as you feel able and will be encouraged to move around.
It is likely that your bowel habits will be very different from what they previously were. An experienced nurse will be able to discuss this with you.
Paying for medical treatment
You don't need medical insurance to have fast access to our top consultants, extensive range of treatments, diagnostic tests and surgical procedures at our world-class facilities.
Our inflammatory bowel disease consultants
Dr Philip Woodland
Gastroenterology
Mr Charles Evans
General Surgery
Dr Adam Humphries
Gastroenterology
Mr Haney Youssef
General Surgery
Our inflammatory bowel disease locations
41 Welbeck Street
41 Welbeck Street W1G 8EA London
The Portland Hospital
205-209 Great Portland Street W1W 5AH London
The Princess Grace Hospital
42-52 Nottingham Place W1U 5NY London
The Lister Hospital
Chelsea Bridge Road, SW1W 8RH London
The Shard Outpatients
The Shard, 32 St Thomas Street SE1 9BS London
London Bridge Hospital
27 Tooley Street SE1 2PR London
Patient stories
Yvette's story: From back pain to hip replacement surgery
Yvette (54) a journalist from Kent, started experiencing pain in her hip seven years ago in 2015. An ex-national gymnast who had been incredibly active and flexible her whole life, Yvette felt concerned about the growing discomfort impacting her quality of life, and so sought help from her GP.
A new hip and straight back into the spin of things
David's gym video shows him repeatedly pushing up to 100kg on a single leg press – not particularly unusual for this keen cyclist former competitive squash player and all-round fitness enthusiast. What is unusual is that 52-year-old David had hip surgery just 12 weeks earlier.
Michael's MAKO hip surgery to treat his arthritis
73 year-old Michael, an avid walker and charity worker, was diagnosed with arthritis in January 2021. After facing long waiting times and increasing pain that was becoming more frequent, he started to look elsewhere for treatment.
This content is intended for general information only and does not replace the need for personal advice from a qualified health professional.