Department of Gastroenterological Surgery Division of Inflammatory Bowel Disease Surgery

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), represented by ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD), is increasing steadily in Japan, with the number of UC cases reaching 220,000 and CD cases reaching 70,000. In Japan, the number of internists specializing in IBD is gradually increasing, and the standardization of diagnosis and treatment is progressing, but there are still very few surgeons who specialize in treating IBD.

Our hospital has been a specialized IBD hospital for about 30 years, with both internal medicine and surgery specialists providing medical care. In 2009, the IBD Center was established, and internal medicine and surgery specialists provide daily outpatient care. Furthermore, we continue to train IBD specialists, conduct clinical research, and basic research to clarify the disease's pathology, and disseminate this information not only domestically but also internationally.

IBD often develops in young people who are in the middle of their productive years, and relapses and exacerbations of the disease are major social issues, and also affect various important turning points in life, such as maintaining one's life, such as attending school, working, getting married, getting pregnant, and giving birth. It is also known that diet plays a major role in the onset and progression of IBD, and that it can cause lesions not only in the intestines but also in various other organs such as the skin, joints, and eyes. Therefore, it is important that medical personnel from various departments, including not only internal medicine and surgery, but also nurses, social workers, pharmacists, and nutritionists, work as a team to treat the disease.

We will continue to maintain an optimal medical treatment system through team medical care and help IBD patients maintain better lives.