Ulcerative Colitis Treatment in Mumbai: Symptoms, Diagnosis and Care

Ulcerative colitis is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that causes inflammation and ulcers in the lining of the large intestine, including the colon and rectum. It can lead to abdominal discomfort, frequent diarrhoea, rectal bleeding, and an urgent need to pass stools. Symptoms may come and go, with periods of active inflammation followed by remission. Ulcerative colitis treatment in Mumbai focuses on controlling inflammation, managing symptoms, and reducing the risk of complications through appropriate medical care, regular monitoring, and lifestyle support to help patients maintain their quality of life.

If you are looking for Ulcerative colitis treatment in Mumbai, an individualised care plan can help address disease severity, reduce inflammation, and identify when specialist surgical assessment may be necessary. Dr. Chintamani Godbole at Gadre Hospital is a colorectal surgeon with advanced training in inflammatory bowel disease surgery, laparoscopic and robotic colorectal procedures, and complex gastrointestinal conditions.

What Is Ulcerative Colitis?

Ulcerative colitis occurs when the immune system contributes to persistent inflammation in the lining of the colon and rectum. The exact cause is not fully understood, but genetic susceptibility, immune responses, and environmental factors may play a role. It is not simply a food intolerance, and it is not contagious.

Unlike Crohn’s disease, which can affect different parts of the digestive tract and involve deeper layers of the bowel wall, ulcerative colitis is limited to the colon and typically affects the inner lining. The inflammation often begins in the rectum and may extend continuously into other parts of the colon.

The condition can range from mild inflammation to severe disease that requires hospital care. Early diagnosis and appropriate treatment help control symptoms, reduce complications, and support long-term bowel health.

Common Symptoms of Ulcerative Colitis

Symptoms vary depending on the extent and severity of inflammation. Common signs include:

• Frequent diarrhoea, sometimes with blood or mucus.
• Rectal bleeding or blood in the stool.
• Abdominal cramps and discomfort.
• An urgent or frequent need to pass stools.
• A feeling that the bowel has not emptied completely.
• Fatigue, reduced appetite, or unintended weight loss.
• Anaemia caused by ongoing blood loss or inflammation.

Some people also develop symptoms outside the digestive tract, such as joint pain, eye inflammation, or certain skin problems. Symptoms may fluctuate, and periods of remission do not necessarily mean the inflammation has completely disappeared.

Seek urgent medical assessment for severe abdominal pain, heavy or persistent bleeding, fever with worsening symptoms, marked weakness, dehydration, or a swollen abdomen. Severe ulcerative colitis can sometimes lead to serious complications requiring emergency treatment.

Ulcerative Colitis Treatment in Mumbai: Diagnosis and Assessment

An accurate diagnosis is essential because other conditions, including intestinal infections and Crohn’s disease, can cause similar symptoms. Ulcerative colitis treatment in Mumbai starts with a review of symptoms, medical history, physical examination, and appropriate investigations.

1. Blood Tests

Blood tests can assess anaemia, inflammation, electrolyte disturbances, and nutritional deficiencies. They also help evaluate the effects of ongoing symptoms and guide treatment monitoring.

2. Stool Tests

Stool testing can identify certain infections that may mimic or worsen ulcerative colitis. Faecal calprotectin may also help assess intestinal inflammation and monitor disease activity.

3. Colonoscopy and Biopsy

Colonoscopy allows a specialist to examine the lining of the colon and rectum. Small tissue samples may be collected for microscopic examination to help confirm the diagnosis and assess the extent of inflammation. In severe acute disease, the timing and type of endoscopy must be chosen carefully.

4. Further Imaging

Imaging may be recommended if complications are suspected, such as severe bowel dilation or perforation. The tests required depend on the patient’s symptoms and clinical condition.

A gastroenterologist usually leads the medical management of ulcerative colitis. A colorectal surgeon may become involved when complications develop or when surgery needs to be considered. Coordinated care helps ensure that the treatment plan addresses both immediate symptoms and long-term health.

Medical Treatment Options

Most people with ulcerative colitis begin with medication rather than surgery. Treatment is selected according to the location and severity of inflammation, previous responses to medication, and the patient’s overall health.

Anti-inflammatory medicines: Medicines such as mesalazine (5-ASA) may be used for mild to moderate disease. They can be given orally, rectally, or in combination, depending on the affected area.

Corticosteroids: Steroids may be prescribed for short-term control of moderate or severe flare-ups. They are generally not suitable for long-term maintenance because of potential side effects.

Immunomodulators and advanced therapies: Selected patients may need medicines that modify immune activity, biologic therapies, or targeted small-molecule treatments. These require specialist assessment and monitoring for adverse effects.

Supportive care: Hydration, nutritional assessment, correction of iron or other deficiencies, and an appropriate dietary plan can support recovery. Food choices should be individualised because no single diet treats ulcerative colitis in everyone.

Patients should not start, stop, or change prescribed medication without consulting their treating clinician. Regular follow-up helps assess whether treatment is controlling inflammation, even when symptoms improve.

When Is Surgery Needed for Ulcerative Colitis?

Surgery may be recommended when medication fails to control severe inflammation, significant complications arise, or changes associated with colorectal cancer or precancerous disease require surgical management. The decision is made jointly by the patient, gastroenterologist, colorectal surgeon, and other relevant specialists.

Common reasons to consider surgery include:

• Severe ulcerative colitis that does not respond adequately to intensive medical treatment.
• Acute severe colitis that deteriorates despite hospital-based therapy.
• Bowel perforation or other life-threatening complications.
• Uncontrolled bleeding in selected cases.
• Dysplasia or colorectal cancer associated with longstanding colitis.

Types of Surgery

Colectomy: Removal of part or all of the colon may be necessary, depending on the clinical situation. For severe ulcerative colitis, removal of the colon may be the first stage of a planned surgical approach.

Proctocolectomy: Removal of the colon and rectum may be recommended for selected patients with extensive disease, severe complications, or cancer-related concerns.

Ileal pouch-anal anastomosis (IPAA): In suitable patients, a pouch created from the small intestine may be connected to the anus after removal of the colon and rectum. This can allow stool to pass through the anus without a permanent ileostomy, although some patients may still require a temporary or permanent stoma.

Stoma formation: An ileostomy brings the end of the small intestine to an opening in the abdominal wall, where stool is collected in a pouch. It may be temporary or permanent, depending on the operation and the patient’s circumstances.

Laparoscopic or robotic techniques may be appropriate for selected patients. The safest approach depends on the urgency of surgery, inflammation, previous treatment, anatomy, and the surgeon’s assessment. Surgery can remove the diseased colon, but it does not eliminate every possible immune-related or extraintestinal manifestation of the condition.

Meet Dr. Chintamani Godbole at Gadre Hospital

Dr. Chintamani Godbole is a specialist in colorectal surgery and peritoneal surface oncology. His qualifications include MBBS and MS in General Surgery from Seth G.S. Medical College and KEM Hospital, Mumbai, DNB in Surgical Gastroenterology, and FRCS from the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, UK.

He completed approximately five years of further colorectal surgical training in the United Kingdom, including fellowships in minimally invasive laparoscopic and robotic colorectal surgery, colorectal cancer surgery, and peritoneal cytoreductive surgery with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC). He also trained at the Basingstoke Peritoneal Malignancy Institute and worked as a surgical consultant at University Hospitals Coventry in the UK.

His areas of expertise include inflammatory bowel disease surgery, colorectal cancer, complex fistula surgery, pelvic floor conditions, and advanced laparoscopic and robotic procedures. His professional profile reports experience performing more than 200 minimally invasive colorectal surgeries and over 50 cytoreductive surgeries with HIPEC.

As a Colorectal Surgeon in Mumbai, Dr. Chintamani Godbole assesses patients who may need specialist surgical input for ulcerative colitis and related bowel conditions. He works within a broader care pathway in which medical gastroenterologists, surgeons, and other professionals coordinate treatment according to each patient’s needs.

Gadre Hospital, near Hindmata Cinema in Dadar East, provides a location for consultations and treatment planning. The appropriate setting for any major bowel operation depends on the patient’s condition and the facilities required. Patients should confirm where surgery would take place, which specialists would be involved, and what postoperative support is available.

Recovery and Long-Term Management

Recovery depends on the severity of the disease, the treatment received, and whether surgery was necessary. Patients treated with medication may need regular blood and stool tests, medication reviews, and periodic endoscopic assessment. Those recovering from bowel surgery may require a hospital stay, gradual dietary progression, wound care, and support with stoma management if applicable.

Helpful long-term measures include:

• Taking prescribed medication consistently.
• Attending follow-up appointments, even when symptoms improve.
• Maintaining hydration and a balanced diet suited to individual tolerance.
• Monitoring for anemia and nutritional deficiencies.
• Discussing colorectal cancer surveillance when indicated.
• Seeking medical advice promptly if symptoms worsen.

Ulcerative colitis can involve relapses and remission, so long-term monitoring remains important. A tailored plan can help manage symptoms, assess treatment response, and identify complications early.

Book a Consultation with Dr. Chintamani Godbole

If you are exploring Ulcerative colitis treatment in Mumbai, consult Dr. Chintamani Godbole to discuss your symptoms, investigation reports, and whether specialist colorectal surgical assessment may be appropriate. Medical treatment is the first-line approach for many patients, while surgery is reserved for selected cases involving uncontrolled disease or complications.

Contact details

+91 8108791470 |  +91 8451865944 (In case of emergency)
drchintamanigodbole@gmail.com
Get Directions to the Clinic – Gadre Hospital, Mumbai

Call to arrange a consultation and discuss a personalised plan for managing ulcerative colitis with Dr. Chintamani Godbole.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Can ulcerative colitis be cured permanently?

Medication can help control inflammation and maintain remission, but ulcerative colitis is a chronic condition. Surgery to remove the colon can eliminate colonic ulcerative colitis, although some associated symptoms or extraintestinal complications may persist.

2. When should a patient with ulcerative colitis consider surgery?

Surgery may be necessary when severe disease does not respond to medication, or when complications such as perforation, uncontrolled bleeding, or colorectal cancer occur. A colorectal surgeon and gastroenterologist assess the risks and benefits before recommending an operation, except when emergency intervention is required.

3. Can ulcerative colitis surgery be performed laparoscopically?

Yes. Laparoscopic and, in selected cases, robotic surgery may be suitable. These approaches use smaller incisions, but the choice depends on disease severity, the patient’s condition, previous treatments, and surgical requirements.

4. Where can I consult a specialist for ulcerative colitis treatment in Mumbai?

You can contact Dr. Chintamani Godbole at Gadre Hospital, Dadar East, Mumbai, for a colorectal surgical consultation. Call 81087 91470 or email drchintamanigodbole@gmail.com. Medical gastroenterology input is also important for comprehensive ulcerative colitis management.