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The role of surgery for children with perianal Crohn's disease
Natashia M Seemann1, Abdul Elkadri2, Thomas D Walters3
1Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada; Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
Insights
Surgery plays a key role in managing pediatric perianal Crohn's disease (PCD). Minor procedures aid drainage during anti-TNF therapy, while major surgery addresses refractory cases.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric surgery
- Gastroenterology
- Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Background:
- Pediatric perianal Crohn's disease (PCD) presents unique challenges.
- Understanding the disease spectrum and surgical management is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe the spectrum of perianal disease in children.
- To elucidate the role of surgical interventions in pediatric PCD.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective chart review of pediatric patients undergoing surgery for PCD.
- Analysis of disease manifestations and surgical procedures over a 10-year period.
Main Results:
- Fifty-seven children with PCD were identified, exhibiting diverse manifestations like abscesses and fistulae.
- Anti-tumor necrosis factor (anti-TNF) therapy was common; minor surgeries (abscess drainage, seton placement) were frequent during therapy.
- Major surgeries (ileostomy, colectomy) were reserved for anti-TNF refractory cases.
Conclusions:
- Pediatric PCD encompasses a wide range of severity.
- Minor surgical interventions are valuable for drainage, particularly with anti-TNF therapy.
- Major surgery is essential for medically refractory pediatric PCD, forming a critical part of the treatment paradigm.
Purpose:
Children with perianal Crohn's disease (PCD) are a unique and diverse patient population. The purpose of this study was to describe the spectrum of disease and role of surgery.
Methods:
A retrospective chart review of all children having at least one surgical intervention for PCD over 10 years was performed.
Results:
Fifty-seven patients (63% male) aged 0.5-17 (median 13) years were identified. Perianal disease consisted of skin tags (49%), superficial fistulae (49%), deep fistulae (37%), superficial abscesses (68%), deep abscesses (9%), skin breakdown (19%), and anal strictures (7%). 84% received anti-TNF therapy, with 27% treated with a second anti-TNF medication. Minor surgical procedures, commonly done during anti-TNF therapy, included abscess drainage (67%) and seton placement (33%). Major surgical procedures, done almost exclusively after anti-TNF failure, included defunctioning ileostomy (23%) and subtotal colectomy (9%). Follow-up ranged from 7 to 160 (median 54) months.
Conclusions:
Pediatric PCD has a wide range of disease severity. Minor surgery provides adequate drainage before and during anti-TNF therapy, while major surgery plays a role in medically refractory disease. Appropriate surgical intervention remains an important part of the treatment paradigm.
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