Patients' perspective on bowel resection for inflammatory bowel disease

The study aimed to determine whether patients are receiving adequate counselling about elective bowel resection and timely surgery for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

Patients with IBD who underwent an elective bowel resection in a tertiary referral centre between April 2012 and Dec 2014 were identified from a prospective database. Patients under the age of 16 years were excluded from the study. Patients were contacted over the phone to complete a questionnaire regarding their perspective on their surgery, including the consultations that took place, preparedness and timing of surgery, as well as patient attitude towards bowel resection and satisfaction with post-operative outcomes. Demographic details were recorded.

Thirty-one patients participated in the study. Twenty-one (68%) patients were diagnosed with Crohn's disease, nine (29%) were diagnosed with ulcerative colitis, and one (3%) had indeterminate colitis. Twenty-seven (87%) patients reported that the timing of the initial consultation regarding the option of bowel resection was appropriate. Twenty-five (81%) patients felt prepared after a consultation with the surgical team with regard to perioperative issues and potential complications. Fourteen (45%) patients reported that the timing of bowel resection was appropriate, while 15 (48%) reported that it should have been earlier. A significant improvement in patient's pre- and post-operative attitudes towards bowel resection was demonstrated (p = 0.004). Thirty (97%) patients were either happy or very happy with their results and symptom improvement post-bowel resection.

Most patients are receiving adequate counselling about elective bowel resection for IBD, although there is room for improvement for preoperative education and optimising timing of surgery.