Post written by Bo Shen, MD, from Columbia University Irving Medical Center/New York Presbyterian Hospital, New York, New York, and Phillip S. Ge, MD, from the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA.

This article describes the evolution of the field of interventional inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), ie, endoscopic management of structural adverse events of IBD, along with a personal journey.

Endoscopy plays a key role in the diagnosis, disease monitoring, surveillance (of dysplasia), and treatment of IBD or IBD surgery—associated adverse events.

It provides a more definitive approach than medical therapy and yet a less-invasive modality than surgical intervention in the management of structural adverse events of IBD.

There has been a gap between the fields of advanced endoscopy and IBD. Historically, advanced endoscopists have focused on the treatment of upper gastrointestinal (GI) and hepatopancreaticobiliary diseases, and IBD specialists have medically managed IBD. We need more advanced endoscopists or IBD specialists who can manage these IBD adverse events. 

This article highlights the personal academic journey of Dr Bo Shen, who was educated in China and the United States, trained in gastroenterology, advanced endoscopy, IBD, and GI pathology, and mentored by the leading gastroenterologists, advanced endoscopists, and GI/colorectal surgeons. The field of interventional IBD evolved from a Pouchitis Clinic and Ileal Pouch Center and is extending into another new field: “corrective endoscopy in IBD and colorectal diseases.” 

A, An interventional IBD and colorectal surgery team was working in the operating room to manage complex IBD. B, A combined therapeutic endoscopic procedure with a colorectal surgeon colleague, Dr Herman Kessler. IBD, Inflammatory bowel disease.

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