Endoscopic and clinical recurrences after laparoscopic or open ileocolic resection in Crohn's disease

After ileocolic resection in Crohn's disease, studies concerning the influence of the laparoscopic or open approach on clinical and endoscopic recurrences are scarce.

In a prospective database, we identified all patients operated on between 2004 and 2012 for primary ileocolic resection in Crohn's disease, with at least 6 months of follow-up. The rates of endoscopic recurrence during the first postoperative year and the clinical recurrence at any time during follow-up were measured and compared after the laparoscopic or open approach.

Sixty-two patients (mean±standard deviation age, 33.5±12.7 years; 35 females) were operated on through laparoscopy (n=28) or laparotomy (n=34). Medical treatment, evolution and phenotype of disease, and postoperative course were comparable in both groups. Mean±standard deviation follow-up was 3.5±1.9 years. Ileocolonoscopy was available in 46 (74.2%) patients. Normal endoscopy or minor recurrence (i0 or i1 grade) was significantly more frequent after laparoscopy (14/24 [58.3%]) versus laparotomy (5/22 [22.7%]) (P=.019). Clinical recurrence was comparable at 1 year (P=.116) and at the end of follow-up (P=.799) after laparoscopy (28.6% and 50%, respectively) or laparotomy (11.8% and 55.9%, respectively).

After resection, normal or minor endoscopic lesions (i0 or i1 grade) were more frequent after laparoscopy than after laparotomy. However, clinical recurrence was similar after both techniques.