Severance Hospital Opens 'Inflammatory Bowel Disease Center'... Supporting Customized Treatment Throughout Life Cycle

Severance Hospital announced on the 13th the opening of the 'Inflammatory Bowel Disease Center' to effectively treat and manage chronic inflammatory bowel diseases.

Inflammatory bowel disease is a term that collectively refers to ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, and Behcet's enteritis. Unlike acute enteritis, which is commonly known, inflammatory bowel disease causes chronic inflammation in the intestines. It is often accompanied by frequent diarrhea and abdominal pain, and many patients experience inflammation and ulcers in joints, eyes, and skin, causing difficulties in daily life.

Medical staff at the Severance Hospital Inflammatory Bowel Disease Center multidisciplinary clinic are discussing the treatment direction for patients with inflammatory bowel disease.
[Photo by Yonsei Medical Center]

Inflammatory bowel disease is a difficult-to-treat condition diagnosed at a young age, requiring lifelong medication. Patients repeatedly experience periods of symptom improvement and worsening. Due to long-term use of multiple drugs, patients often suffer from physical and emotional exhaustion, and serious complications such as intestinal perforation and fistulas requiring surgery may occur due to drug resistance or poor adherence. In the past, it was a rare disease mainly occurring in Western countries, but recently its prevalence has rapidly increased domestically.

The Inflammatory Bowel Disease Center at Severance Hospital operates a close cooperative system involving 12 clinical departments, including gastroenterology, colorectal surgery, pediatric gastroenterology and nutrition, as well as radiology, dermatology, nutrition team, and pharmacy team. For accurate diagnosis and treatment, the center exchanges opinions on the latest treatment methods among clinical departments weekly and conducts multidisciplinary care.

Since inflammatory bowel disease requires lifelong management and proper medication intake is crucial, the center provides special management regarding patient medication through close cooperation with the pharmacy team. Additionally, specialized nutritional counseling is offered for patients with poor nutritional status due to indigestion, frequent diarrhea, and abdominal pain that reduce appetite. Communication between patients and medical staff is expanded through online communities and regular health lectures, and Saturday morning consultations have been activated to facilitate smooth treatment for working patients and students. Support is also provided for 'life-cycle tailored treatment' to ensure a smooth transition for pediatric and adolescent patients as they become adults and move to the gastroenterology department.

Center Director Cheon Jae-hee (Professor of Gastroenterology) said, "Since inflammatory bowel disease is a condition requiring lifelong treatment, Severance Hospital provides treatment tailored to the entire patient lifecycle, from children to the elderly," adding, "We offer optimal treatment through various methods such as medication and nutritional therapy."

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