Ileocecal strictureplasty for Crohn's disease: long-term results and comparison with ileocecal resection

The aim of the present study was to evaluate strictureplasty as the first choice for surgical treatment for Crohn's terminal ileitis.

Between 1996 and 2000 we performed Finney-shaped ileocecal strictureplasty (ICS), doubling up the diseased terminal ileum, in 14 patients affected by Crohn's disease (group A). We compared the postoperative and long-term outcomes of these patients with those of 14 similar patients who underwent ileocecal resection with ileocolonic anastomosis during the same period (group B).

No postoperative morbidity or mortality was recorded in group A, whereas two patients of group B had a pelvic hematoma and cholestatic hepatopathy, respectively. The mean hospital stay after surgery was 9.9 days (range 7-13 days) in group A and 7.4 days (range 6-10 days) in group B. After a median follow-up of 120 months (range 103-147 months), five patients of group A had a symptomatic recurrence: A stricture at the site of the ICS was present in four of them, but only one required surgery; symptoms were controlled by medical therapy in the other three. The fifth symptomatic patient was reoperated for multiple jejunoileal recurrence of the disease above the ICS. Group B patients have been followed for a mean of 108 months (range 90-140 months). Four of the patients had a preanastomotic recurrence, with subocclusive symptoms and mild malnutrition treated with medical therapy.

Our results indicate that there are no significant differences between ICS and resection in terms of outcome and clinical relapse of Crohn's terminal ileitis.