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Crohn's disease in children. Preliminary experience with a laparoscopic approach
Insights
Laparoscopic surgery for pediatric Crohn's disease (CD) is feasible, even for pancolitis. An extracorporeal anastomosis is recommended over mechanical anastomosis for safer outcomes in CD patients.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Surgery
- Gastroenterology
- Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Background:
- Laparoscopic surgery offers advantages over conventional approaches in pediatric Crohn's disease (CD).
- This study reviews laparoscopic treatment for CD in children, detailing indications, procedures, and complications.
- It compares outcomes in children with pancolitis versus ileocecal (segmental) Crohn's disease.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the feasibility and outcomes of laparoscopic surgery for pediatric Crohn's disease.
- To report specific indications, surgical techniques, and complications encountered.
- To compare outcomes between segmental CD and pancolitis cases.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of 11 pediatric CD patients treated between 1999 and 2004.
- Analysis of clinical and surgical data, including operative time and length of stay.
- Statistical analysis using the Mann-Whitney U-test for nonparametric data.
Main Results:
- Eleven children underwent laparoscopic surgery for CD; indications included stenosis (6), failure to thrive (1), and refractory pancolitis (4).
- Mean operative times differed significantly between segmental CD and pancolitis groups (207 vs. 285 minutes).
- Three conversions to open surgery occurred; two patients experienced disease relapse post-operatively.
Conclusions:
- Laparoscopic ileocolic resection is a viable option for pediatric Crohn's disease, including pancolitis.
- Extracorporeal anastomosis is recommended due to concerns about mechanical anastomosis safety in inflamed bowel.
- Laparoscopic surgery demonstrates feasibility and acceptable outcomes in pediatric CD management.
Background:
Laparoscopic surgery in patients with Crohn's disease (CD) has been demonstrated to have advantages over a conventional approach in children. The aim of this study was to review the children treated for CD with a laparoscopic approach, to report our indications, the surgical procedure, the complications, and to compare the children with pancolitis or ileocaecal (segmental) Crohn's disease.
Patients And Method:
We reviewed the files of 11 children treated for CD in a single institution between 1999 and 2004 for a retrospective study of clinical and surgical data. Mann-Whitney U-test was used for statistical analysis of nonparametric data.
Results:
Eleven children were operated. The average age when initial clinical symptoms became apparent was 12.1 years (range 6.6 - 15), and surgery was performed after an average of 3.4 years of disease (range 1 - 7.6). The surgical indications were stenosis in 6 cases, failure to thrive in 1 case (segmental CD, SCD group) and pancolitis refractory to medical treatment in 4 cases (pancolitis group, PCD group). Mean operative time was 207 minutes (range 140 - 270) for the SCD group and 285 minutes (range 260 - 300) for the PCD group (p < 0.05). Three cases needed a conversion to open surgery (2 in PCD group, one in SCD group), mainly in relation to anastomosis performed with an EEA stapler. The average length of surgical unit stay was 6.5 days (range 4 - 8) for the PCD group and 6.4 days (range 4 - 8) for the SCD group; average follow-up was 16 months (range 3 - 38). Two patients had a relapse of CD (stenosis of the anastomosis in one, skin fistula in the other).
Conclusion:
A laparoscopic approach for ileocolic resection in Crohn's disease is a feasible procedure, even in cases of pancolitis. We recommend an extra-corporeal anastomosis because, in relation to the inflammatory bowel, the mechanical anastomosis is not a safe procedure in cases of pancolitis.
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