Patients' perspective on bowel resection for inflammatory bowel disease.

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

METHODS: 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.

RESULTS: 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.

CONCLUSION: 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.