Seek Care From an IBD Specialist
Whether your disease is mild or complex, our gastroenterologists who specialize in IBD treatment can work with you to control your disease and its symptoms. We help restore your quality of life and watch for any complications related to the disease or its treatment.
Expertise in Diagnosing and Treating IBD
Doctors from across the region refer their patients to us because of our expertise in diagnosing and treating IBD and its complications. If you are referred to us, we will partner with your current doctors to ensure you receive the best possible care. We also welcome people who are new to the Triangle and want to establish care with an experienced IBD provider.
Experience with Complicated Conditions
Whether you are newly diagnosed with Crohn’s or ulcerative colitis, or are seeking another opinion about your treatment, our IBD providers are ready to see you. We work with people who:
- Have complex IBD histories
- Have other medical problems that make their treatment challenging
- Are not responding to conventional treatments
- Have developed a complication related to IBD or its treatment and require more comprehensive care
Post-Surgery Treatment
We provide care for people with Crohn’s who have had surgery to remove a piece of intestine or close a fistula. We also help people with ulcerative colitis who have undergone surgery to “cure” the disease by removing their colon. And we can help with managing “pouchitis,” an inflammation of the ileal pouch that may occur after removal of the colon.
Advanced Gastrointestinal Endoscopy
Tests Overview
In addition to performing common procedures such as colonoscopy and upper endoscopy, our gastroenterologists are experts in advanced endoscopic procedures. These techniques help us detect abnormalities such as bleeding, ulceration, inflammation, and scarring. They ensure you receive an accurate diagnosis and are a key step in determining the most effective treatment plan for you.
Endoscopic Ultrasound
Description
May distinguish Crohn’s disease from ulcerative colitis. An endoscope fitted with an ultrasound device obtains deep images and may be used to identify fistulas -- connections between the intestines and skin or other organs -- in the rectal area.
Chromoendoscopy
Description
A blue spray dye is used during colonoscopy to highlight abnormal areas of the colon. It can detect an abnormal development of cells called dysplasia -- an early sign of colorectal cancer -- in people who have ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease involving the colon.
Capsule Endoscopy
Description
Obtains pictures of the entire small bowel. You'll be asked to swallow a capsule camera about the size of a large vitamin tablet. The camera then travels through the small intestine and transmits photos to a recorder you wear on a belt around your waist.
Double Balloon Enteroscopy
Description
An inflating and deflating balloon identifies abnormalities as it helps move the endoscope deeply into the small intestine.
Choose Duke for Your IBD Care
A Team of Experts
Your IBD team may include doctors from many specialties, including gastroenterologists who specialize in diagnosing and managing IBD, colorectal surgeons skilled in minimally invasive techniques and robotic technology, GI-specific radiologists who focus solely on abdominal imaging, and specialized pathologists who examine tissue samples to help your doctors learn what is going on at a microscopic level. We meet regularly to review complex cases and work together to make treatment recommendations.
Comprehensive Care
Because IBD can cause health problems and symptoms in areas outside the gastrointestinal tract, your team may also include specialists in skin and wound care, joint diseases, eye diseases, and bone diseases.
Comfortable Setting
We offer a comfortable setting for tests and consultation. Our IBD specialists see people in Durham and Raleigh, and our infusion centers, located at Duke and at Brier Creek, provide convenient options for the administration of intravenous medicine. The Duke Specialty Infusion Center offers Saturday morning infusions.
Access to Clinical Trials
You may be eligible to participate in studies of new therapies that are not available elsewhere. Some of our patients help further our knowledge and understanding of IBD by letting us collect samples of blood or tissue, or by joining a clinical trial.
