[Crohn disease. Long-term effects of surgical treatment]

Surgical treatment of Crohn's disease is an alternative when the symptoms are not adequately relieved by drugs. The initial result of intestinal resection is usually good, but in most cases the disease re-occurs after varying periods of time. The article describes a study of the long-term results of surgical treatment. 58 patients were followed up 10-25 years after surgery. 38% had been re-operated within ten years, and 54% within 15 years. None of the patients had been re-operated more than 15 years after the initial operation. After an average observation time of 18 years, 35% had no symptoms, and 65% had symptoms probably caused by Crohn's disease. Of the 17 patients with no clinical symptoms at follow-up, 11 had been re-operated once or several times. Only six of the patients were symptom-free without reoperation. The authors conclude that, although a permanent cure of Crohn's disease is rarely achieved by surgery, it is a valuable form of treatment for patients with incapacitating symptoms.