Reoperation for regional enteritis (Crohn's disease)

Twenty-five patients had major operations for regional enteritis between 1969 and 1981. Of these, 12 patients required subsequent major procedures for recurrent disease. This group consisted of three men and nine women who were operated upon a total of 32 times. Their average age at onset of disease was 27.4 years, compared with 40 years for those patients who were operated upon only once. The reoperated group had an average of 3.5 nonoperative hospital admissions, while, patients in the group with one operation were hospitalized 1.8 times for disease during the period studied. Identification of operated patients who will require reoperation would improve counseling of these patients. Earlier age of onset and more frequent nonoperative admissions seem to be associated with need for reoperation. Extent and type of primary resection seem to be of less predictive value.