[Surgical treatment of Crohn's disease]

Fourteen patients with Crohn's disease underwent operation at our department. Twelve were males and 2 were females, with a mean age of 28 years. The lesions were found in the small intestine in 5 patients, in the small and large intestines in 5 and in the large intestine in 4. The indications for laparotomy were stenosis in 43%, intractability in 43% and others in 14%. Stenosis was most commonly indicated in the small intestinal lesions, and intractability in the large intestinal lesions. For 12 patients, resection of the involved intestine was carried out, however for another 2, partial resection of the involved intestine was performed to avoid short bowel syndrome. Postoperative recurrence rate, in the cases where the involved intestine was totally resected, was 40% in the small intestinal lesions, 33% in the small and large intestinal lesions and 0% in the large intestinal lesions. Postoperative quality of life for most patients was excellent or good, and hematological status at follow-up showed an almost normal range. From these results, in patients with Crohn's disease, it was thought that the operation should be performed soon after medical treatment has failed.