Accutane Inflammatory Bowel Disease

by admin on January 21st, 2011

Otherwise healthy people have suffered from serious intestinal complications stemming from Accutane inflammatory bowel disease problems. Most cases involve ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease. Both disorders share many of the same symptoms, including cramping and abdominal pain, chronic diarrhea, bloody stools, fever, and a loss of appetite. However, the disorders differ in presentation.

Accutane ulcerative colitis symptoms are defined by inflammation of the large intestine. The pattern is usually continuous, and ascends from the rectum as the disorder worsens. By contrast, Crohn’s disease is characterized by inflamed tissue that appears in patches anywhere along the digestive tract. Also, ulcerative colitis usually affects only the inner lining of the intestine. Crohn’s disease penetrates much further. For this reason, the latter form of inflammatory bowel disease is more likely to cause intestinal fistulas.

Overview Of Intestinal Fistulas Stemming From IBD

Intestinal fistulas are channels that open between the small or large intestine, and other organs. These channels are caused by severe inflammation that penetrates through multiple layers of tissue. In some cases, fistulas open between different parts of the intestine (i.e. one section of the bowel adheres to another section). In other cases, the channels open with the anus and skin. Still other fistulas can form between the bowel and the abdominal wall, vagina, and bladder.

It is estimated that nearly 40 percent of patients with Accutane side effects involving Crohn’s disease eventually develop one or more intestinal fistulas. Depending on where the channels form, as well as the organs involved, symptoms can be severe, mild, or nonexistent.

Potential Problems Caused By Intestinal Fistulas

If a channel forms between two sections of the bowel that are positioned next to each other, it is unlikely to cause serious problems. The contents of the intestine might flow through the fistula, skipping a portion of the bowel, but the skipped portion will be relatively short. If, however, a channel opens between two sections that are a significant distance apart along the tract, the contents will skip a major section of the bowel. This can cause severe abdominal pain and digestive issues.

When intestinal fistulas open between the bowel and other organs, they can lead to drainage problems. The contents in the intestine may drain from the bowel into these organs, leading to contamination.

Some fistulas open and close randomly. When this happens, the intestinal contents may become trapped within the channel, causing infection. This becomes a dangerous complication when infection threatens to enter the bloodstream.

Diagnosis Of Accutane inflammatory bowel disease Fistulas

Even though intestinal fistulas display clearly on the outside of the bowel, it is often difficult to pinpoint their location on the inside. The channels often have openings on the inside intestinal lining that are positioned a short distance away from their connections with other organs. This makes diagnosing them difficult.

To confirm whether fistulas are present, your doctor may order one or more imaging studies, such as abdominal CT scans and MRIs. Ultrasonography and a barium enema may also be performed. If there is clear evidence of fistulas, but their location is uncertain, your doctor may perform an angiogram.

Once the channels have been confirmed, medications are usually given for treatment. In many cases, especially with fistulas near the anus, antibiotics are sufficient to cause them to close. Other times, immunosuppressant drugs are appropriate. When fistulas become severe, surgery is often required to resolve them. This can include creating a hole in the skin to provide drainage of bowel contents, or removing the section of the bowel that contains the fistula.

Accutane Lawsuit

Accutane inflammatory bowel disease problems can lead to life-changing circumstances and complications. Some, such as intestinal fistulas, may in time become life-threatening. If you are currently suffering from chronic diarrhea, intestinal ulcers, abdominal pain, or other serious Accutane side effects, you may be able to file a claim for compensation. Contact an experienced Accutane lawsuit attorney to discuss your legal options.