MUH unveils ‘game changer’ tech for people living with IBD

A Cork hospital has introduced a new model of care for people living with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD).

The Mercy University Hospital (MUH) is now leading the way with a new nurse-led point of care ultrasound in IBD (IBDUS), funded by the Mercy University Hospital Foundation at a cost of €93,032.

The new ultrasound, lead out by Dr Donal Sheehan, consultant gastroenterologist at MUH, is a safe, non-invasive assessment tool that will be used amongst patients with IBD, such as Crohn’s disease and colitis, to assess and monitor the bowel wall thickness, detect complications, and assess response to treatment in approximately 15 minutes.

There are approximately 40,000 people living with IBD in Ireland, with more than 4,000 people attending the Mercy for treatment of their condition.

The new ultrasound can be performed in the clinic or during infusions and enables medical teams at the Mercy to decide on a patient’s care plan immediately, enabling earlier intervention, an escalation or switch of medication as required.

In certain situations, it will also replace the need for CT, MRI and colonoscopy tests, thus increasing capacity in these areas.

The treatment can be performed at the patient’s bedside, or at an outpatient clinic appointment.

Advanced nurse practitioner in IBD at Mercy University Hospital, Caitríona O’Sullivan said: “This newly introduced technology increases patient empowerment and allows us to ensure a personalised treatment plan for each patient.”

Dr Sheehan said: “With the new ultrasound, we are essentially walking patients through the results as the test is happening in real time during the clinic visit.

“It is a real game changer.”