Surgical management of ileosigmoid fistulas in Crohn's disease

Thirty-two instances of ileosigmoid fistula complicating Crohn's disease were seen in a series of 231 patients treated for this disorder. Conservative surgical treatment, consisting of dissection of the inflammatory mass and oversewing of the remaining defects in the sigmoid was possible in 23 patients. There was no mortality and there were no anastomotic leakages or postoperative fistulas. A plea is made for avoiding sigmoid resection whenever possible.