Inflammatory bowel disease. 2: Medical and surgical treatment

The first article in this three-part series reviewed the aetiology, treatment and concept of participation in inflammatory bowel disease. This article provides a brief overview of current trends in the medical and surgical treatment of inflammatory bowel disease. The discussion of medical management will include the most common drugs utilized for symptom control, their modes of action, routes of administration and side-effects. In addition, the role of nutritional support, both as an adjunctive and a primary therapy, will be considered. The options for, and consequences of, definitive surgical intervention in the event of failed medical management of both ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease will be examined.