Intestinal haemorrhage after strictureplasty for Crohn's disease.

Between 1978 and 1995, a total of 52 patients have undergone 241 small intestinal strictureplasties at 76 operations in one surgical unit. The post-operative course was complicated by intestinal haemorrhage in 4 patients. In 3, the bleeding settled with conservative management. The 4th patient required laparotomy on two occasions to control bleeding from duodenal Crohn's disease and the proximal jejunal strictureplasty site, respectively. Strictureplasty is a relatively safe operation, but has a low incidence of potentially life-threatening post-operative haemorrhage.