Strictureplasty for Crohn's disease: meta-analysis

The objective of this study was to analyze patient outcome after strictureplasty for management of intestinal stricture caused by Crohn's disease based on differences in surgical procedures.

A MEDLINE search was performed using a medical subject heading analysis for strictureplasty in Crohn's disease. Meta-analysis of multiple variables for outcome was performed using random-effects models.

Five hundred six patients underwent 1,825 strictureplasties for Crohn's disease with minimal morbidity and zero mortality. Ninety percent of strictures were less than 10 cm in length. Approximately 85 percent of these procedures used the Heineke-Mikulicz technique and 13 percent used Finney strictureplasty. Forty-four percent of procedures included concurrent bowel resection. Recurrence rate of Crohn's disease after strictureplasty was increased in patients with longer study duration after surgery (P = 0.04), who showed symptoms of active disease (P = 0.02), who experienced preoperative weight loss (P = 0.02), or who received the Heineke-Mikulicz procedure (P = 0.008). The proportion of patients requiring additional surgery was increased with longer study duration (P = 0.006), with preoperative weight loss (P = 0.001), or with the Heineke-Mikulicz procedure (P = 0.005). The proportion of patients requiring additional surgery was decreased when a Finney strictureplasty was used (P = 0.008) as compared with those treated by the Heineke-Mikulicz procedure.

Although the Heineke-Mikulicz technique is most often used for Crohn's strictureplasty, outcome analysis revealed the Finney strictureplasty may reduce the reoperation rate.