Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)

Conditions we treat  

We treat a wide array of inflammatory conditions, including:

• Crohn’s disease: can affect any part of the digestive tract, but most commonly the small intestine and colon
• Ulcerative colitis: affects the lining of the large intestine, colon, or rectum
• Immune checkpoint inhibitor colitis: inflammation of the colon caused by cancer drugs

For some, IBD symptoms can be mild and easily managed. For others, they can include unintentional weight loss, abdominal pain, chronic diarrhea, fatigue, anemia, and a significantly reduced quality of life. 

Our goal is for every IBD patient to lead a normal, healthy life. Our specialists will help you understand your unique condition and how to manage it over time through medication, lifestyle support, and surgery, if needed. 

Why choose us for IBD care?  

IBD can be difficult to diagnose and treat. Saint Luke's Crohn's and Colitis Center of Excellence brings together a multidisciplinary team of specialists to personalize a care plan that focuses on reducing inflammation, controlling symptoms, and preventing flare-ups. We are passionate about educating and empowering patients to understand and recognize the complexities of their conditions. Our goal is for Saint Luke's to be your one-point destination for leading-edge IBD care. 

Your team will include: 

• Board-certified gastroenterologists with specialized training in IBD 
• Colorectal surgeons 
• Specialty pharmacists 
• Nutritionists 
• Ostomy care nurses 
• Gastrointestinal pathologists 
• Additional specialists when needed 

What to expect 

Saint Luke's Crohn's and Colitis Center of Excellence is your destination for advanced IBD care. From your very first visit, you’ll have a team of experts working together to understand your condition and develop evidence-based treatment plans. We offer three locations across Missouri and Kansas, and virtual visits are available.

Your first visit will cover:

• A comprehensive review of your health history 
• If you are a new patient, our providers will review outside records prior to your visit
• Our office will request these records, if not sent with your referral; in some cases, we may ask for your assistance
• A recommendation for treatment options, based on your health history 
• A referral for an endoscopy to restage your disease, if needed 
• Answering questions you may have about your symptoms or treatment plan 

Chromoendoscopy: Cancer screening for patients with IBD 

Saint Luke’s is one of the few centers in the Kansas City region to offer chromoendoscopy procedures. Chromoendoscopy is a specialized technique where a physician uses dye stains to help identify pre-cancerous areas in the digestive tract not typically seen during a colonoscopy. 

This technique is crucial to detecting early pre-cancerous changes for patients with increased risk of colon cancer, especially patients with primary biliary cholangitis or those who were found to have invisible dysplasia during a conventional screening colonoscopy.