[Crohn disease: II. Indications for operation]

As the etiology of Crohn's disease is still unknown conservative as well as surgical treatment has to be symptomatic. Medical therapy is performed by use of prednisolone, salazosulfapyridine, metronidazole and elementary diet depending on the localisation and extension of the disease. Surgical treatment means therapy of complications like stenoses, fistulae and abscess formation. Neither after conservative nor after surgical treatment is the course of the disease predictable.