Strictureplasty in Crohn's disease.

Fifty patients with fibrotic small bowel strictures secondary to long-standing Crohn's disease underwent a total of 225 strictureplasties during the period from June 1984 to July 1988. Forty-two patients (84%) presented with obstructive symptoms. Patients had a 1- to 30-year history of Crohn's disease (mean, 14 years). Sixty-two per cent of patients were taking steroids at the time of admission, and 70% had had previous small bowel resections. All patients had one or more areas of small bowel affected with a fibrotic stricture and partial obstruction. Short strictures were treated by Heinecke-Mikulicz strictureplasties, and longer strictures by Finney side-to-side strictureplasties. In 30 patients (60%), 6- to 65-cm segments of small bowel were also resected due to acute inflammation with phlegmon or fistulae. Patients were discharged from the hospital 5 to 20 days after operation (mean, 10 days). After operation all patients with obstructive symptoms reported relief of symptoms and weight gain. Steroid doses could be tapered and nutritional parameters, such as total lymphocyte count, and serum albumin improved. Strictureplasty had 0% mortality and 16% morbidity rates. Complications included 3 enterocutaneous fistulae, 2 intra-abdominal abscesses, 2 hemorrhages requiring transfusion, 1 prolonged postoperative ileus that could be treated conservatively in 2 patients, and 1 restricture of a strictureplasty. Patients were followed for 1 to 40 months after operation (mean, 8 months). Resection of small bowel disease, especially that associated with perforation, is usually required in Crohn's disease. However, strictureplasty minimizes the need for bowel resection in patients with short fibrotic strictures resulting in recurrent small bowel obstruction.