Table 1 Summary of topics and PICO questions

Initial assessment and Diagnosis

Q.1: In patients with suspected complicated IBD, which are the appropriate biochemical investigations that should be performed?

“Crohn”, “Ulcerative colitis”, “abdominal pain”, “emergency”, “biochemical”, “laboratory”, “markers”, “investigation”; “test”; “metabolic panel”

Initial assessment and Diagnosis

Q.2: In patients with a suspected complicated IBD, which are the appropriate imaging studies that should be performed in the emergency setting?

“Crohn”; “Ulcerative colitis”; “emergency”; “radiology”; “computed tomography”; magnetic resonance”; ultrasonography”; “peritonitis”; abscess”; “occlusion”

Non operative management and preoperative assessment

Q.3: Which is the role of interventional radiology in the management of intra-abdominal abscesses related to Crohn’s disease in the emergency setting?

“Crohn"; “abscess”; “stricture”; “drainage”; “antibiotics”; “surgery”; “emergency”; “ulcerative colitis”

Preoperative management

Q.4: In patients presenting with complications related to IBD, what is the appropriate medical treatment and nutritional support?

-The role of medical treatment and management of specific IBD drugs

-The role of nutritional support

“Crohn”; "Ulcerative Colitis"; Nutritional support”; “immunosuppression”; “steroids”; “biologics”; “medical treatment” antibiotics”; “emergency”; “preoperative”; “postoperative”; “surgery”

Non-operative vs Operative management

Clinical setting:

-Acute severe ulcerative colitis;

-Toxic megacolon;

-Uncontrolled bleeding;

-Free perforation;

-Intestinal obstruction

Q.5: What are the indications for emergency surgery in patients presenting with complications related to IBD?

“Crohn”; "ulcerative colitis”; “toxic megacolon”; “upper gastrointestinal bleeding”;”peritonitis”; “perforation”; “occlusion”; “obstruction”;”emergency”; “surgery”; “indications”;”radiolology”;”angio-embolisation”; “computed tomography”;”angiography”, "lower gastrointestinal bleeding", "non operative management"

Surgical management

Q.6: Which surgical approach is recommended for complicated IBD in the emergency setting?

“Acute severe ulcerative colitis”; “intestinal bleeding”;”hemorrage”;“Crohn”; “anastomosis”; “laparoscopy”; “open”; “non operative management”; peritonitis”; “occlusion”; “perforation”; “toxic megacolon”; minimally invasive tecnique”; “emergency”;”damage control”;”open abdomen”

Surgical management

Q.7: How to manage perianal sepsis in the emergency setting?

“perianal”; “abscess”; “fistula”; “sepsis”;”antimicrobial”; “medical treatment”; “surgery”;”emergency”, "Crohn"