Outcome following treatment of anal fistulae in Crohn's disease.

The results of treating 24 patients with anal fistulae and active intestinal Crohn's disease is reported. Four patients had multiple extended, seven high and ten low fistulae and three patients had sinus tracts. Seven patients with only minor discomfort were treated conservatively and five of them healed. Thirteen were treated by local surgery and ten subsequently healed. Four patients with rectal Crohn's disease and multiple fitulous systems were submitted to abdominoperineal excision. These results indicate that in patients without rectal involvement, conservative treatment and local surgery is indicated.