IBD Study Guide 2026
Everything you need to pass the IBD exam in one place: the exam format, every topic to study, real practice questions with explanations, flashcards, and full-length practice tests. Free, no sign-up needed.
📋 IBD Exam Format at a Glance
📚 IBD Topics to Study (23)
✍️ Sample IBD Questions & Answers
1. Which micronutrient deficiency is most common in patients with Crohn's disease affecting the terminal ileum?
Terminal ileal Crohn's disease impairs intrinsic factor-mediated vitamin B12 absorption, requiring intramuscular or high-dose oral B12 supplementation.
2. Pouchitis after IPAA surgery is most effectively treated initially with which antibiotic?
Acute pouchitis responds to a 2-week course of metronidazole or ciprofloxacin in approximately 80-90% of cases, making these the first-line treatment.
3. Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) protocols for IBD colectomy include which key element?
ERAS protocols reduce length of stay and complications through early feeding, early mobilization, multimodal analgesia minimizing opioids, and minimally invasive surgical techniques.
4. The client is diagnosed with an acute exacerbation of ulcerative colitis. Which intervention should the nurse implement?
Explanation: Option 2, "Rest the client's bowels," is the most appropriate intervention during an acute exacerbation of ulcerative colitis. This allows the colon to heal by reducing inflammation. Options 1, 3, and 4 may be relevant in other contexts but are not specifically targeted at managing an acute exacerbation of this condition.
5. Which IBD-associated antibody is most specific for Crohn's disease?
ASCA (IgA and IgG) is found in approximately 60-70% of Crohn's patients and is highly specific for Crohn's disease compared to UC.
6. Gallstones (cholelithiasis) are more common in Crohn's disease affecting the terminal ileum due to which mechanism?
Terminal ileal disease or resection impairs enterohepatic recycling of bile acids, depleting the bile acid pool and leading to cholesterol-supersaturated bile and pigment gallstone formation.