Surgeons have made serious attempts to try and understand the effects associated with use of medications on precautions they undertake. Just as steroids are known to be good for example in treating people with colitis and ensuring that they get them through successfully, surgeons sometimes operate on patients already on steroids with some of them being on high steroid dosages. Going into the operating room with steroids comes with significant risks and this has much to do with healing of the wound. As you might already know, steroids have the effects of suppressing normal healing of wounds and can have significant effects when cutting the bowel just like when cutting the skin. This is because the surgeons go right through the body tissues and there will of course be differences on how a person on steroids and one not on it heals.

The side effects of immunomodulators

Are the surgeons aware of the various immunomodulators which such people are on? There have been some early reports, which seem to be pointing out that these immunomodulators carry serious risks compared to some other drugs which patients are on. Right now, the data that exists about this is quite conflicting and it is quite a concern for most surgeons. Most people on the medications already are given some temporary diversions to ensure that their wounds heal naturally. By doing this, the surgeons are able to win the patients off the medications and are able to restore intestinal continuity.

The immunomodulators being referred to here are the anti- TNFs or the biologics. Most of the patients requiring colitis patient’s care are those that are referred by their doctors after they have failed their first therapy and need to continue to both the second and third lines. They are presently going on through some protocols or clinical trials. It is quite often to see patients that are seriously frustrated with the medications they are taking and are interested in knowing more about colitis surgery and how it can be an effective solution for their condition. For patients that are starting to have some frequent flares, it is essential that they think about surgery as a sound alternative. For patients who are starting to think of what is referred to as low grade dysplasia to deal with their biopsies, it is essential that they start thinking about colectomy.

When to ditch medications for a surgeon

The earlier you are able to involve a surgeon, the better it will be for you. As such, you need to sit down with your doctor and start talking to them about your experiences. This way, they will tell you whether it is the right time for surgeons to come in or not. In most cases, a patient doesn’t just request to have a surgeon involved in their medical care. Rather, another doctor, mostly gastroenterologist refers the patient to the surgeon. Gastroenterologists of course are in a better position of knowing the direction a patient is leaning on and recommend the need to see a surgeon rather than using other medications.