Management of Inflammatory Bowel Disease Flares in the Emergency Department

Because of the chronic relapsing nature of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), emergency clinicians frequently manage patients with acute flares and complications. IBD patients present with an often-broad range of nonspecific signs and symptoms, and it is essential to differentiate a mild flare from a life-threatening intra-abdominal process. Recognizing extraintestinal manifestations and the presence of infection are critical. This episode reviews the literature on management of IBD flares in the emergency department, including laboratory testing, imaging, and identification of surgical emergencies, emphasizing the importance of coordination of care with specialists on treatment plans and offering patients resources for ongoing support

This episode of EB Medicine’s EMplify podcast is hosted by Jeff Nusbaum, MD, and Nachi Gupta, MD, PhD. This month’s corresponding full-length journal issue of Emergency Medicine Practice was authored by Dr. Michael Burg and Dr. Steven Riccoboni. It was peer reviewed by Dr. Andrew Lee and Dr. Chad Roline.

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