Inflammatory Bowel Disease Centre

The Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) Centre is the first centre in Singapore with a dedicated multi-disciplinary team focused on the management of patients with Ulcerative Colitis and Crohn's disease. It serves to co-ordinate services in gastroenterology, colorectal surgery, pathology, radiology, pharmacy, nutrition, nursing and research, offering IBD patients comprehensive care.  

Clinical Services

In IBD, the goals of therapy are to attain and maintain remission, with effective treatment. Medications need to be taken on a lifelong basis. As patients with IBD are known to undergo periodic relapses and remission, the medications serve to reduce the number of relapses and complications. 

We provide patients with advice on treatment choices, in an era where there are many effective options. Our formulary has advanced therapies used in IBD, including biologics and small molecules. An infusion centre dedicated to infusion services is run by our trained nurses to administer injectable formulations of biologics. Clinical trials are also available for eligible patients.

Available advanced therapies for IDB include: 

• Immunomodulars: azathioprine, methotrexate
• Biologics & Biosimilars: infliximab, adalimumab, vedolizumab, ustekinumab
• Small molecules: tofacitinib, upadacitinib

As these diseases are chronic in nature, patients usually require specialist medical care in conjunction with good inter-disciplinary care involving the nutritionists, nurses and pharmacists who are experienced in managing IBD.

High-definition quality endoscopy for diagnosis and assessment of disease is routinely performed for our patients at our Ambulatory Endoscopic Centre. Endoscopic therapies like polypectomies and dilatations are performed in patients who require them.

Radiological assessment is an integral part of regular monitoring for patients with IBD. Cross-sectional imaging and intestinal ultrasound allow non-invasive visualization of the bowels. Drainage of abscesses are performed by interventional radiologists when indicated.

Abdominal or perianal surgery may be required to achieve better disease control in some patients, or in others who have developed complications which are not readily managed with medications. These are performed by our colorectal surgeons with experience in IBD surgery.

We run regular multi-disciplinary meetings for patients who require additional layers of care. These meetings draw the expertise from specialists in different fields to develop effective and safe management strategies for our patients with complex disease.

Endoscopic and Surgical Services

• Gastroscopy and colonoscopy to assess and monitor disease severity
• Colonoscopy for colo-rectal cancer screening and removal of pre-cancerous polyps
• Endoscopic dilatation for bowel stricture
• Surgical resection of diseased bowel segments
• Seton insertion for perianal fistulae
• Stoma creation for defunctioning ileostomy or colostomy
• Pouch creation for patients who have undergone colectomy

Radiology Services

• CT scan of the abdomen, pelvis and small intestines: To assess inflammation of the small intestines and complications including collections, abscesses, strictures and fistulae
• MRI Enterography: To assess inflammation of the small intestines and complications including collections, abscesses, strictures and fistulae
• MRI Pelvis: To assess perianal complications including abscesses and complexity of fistulae
• Intestinal ultrasound: Real time, non-invasive imaging tool to assess intestinal inflammation.
• Interventional drainage of abscesses under radiological guidance

Pathology Services

• Histological corroboration for the diagnosis of ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease
• Exclude conditions that are mimics of IBD, including tuberculosis
• Assessment of microscopic disease activity
• Evaluation for pre-cancerous or cancerous lesions which have been endoscopically or surgically resected

Outpatient Opening Hours

• Mondays to Fridays: 9.00am to 5.00pm
• Sundays and Public Holidays: Closed
  

Contact Information

Singapore General Hospital,
CDLD, Block 3
Basement 1 (Yellow Zone)

65 6321 4377
(for appointments)