Crohn Disease

Abstract

The role of surgery in the management of Crohn disease has undergone a dramatic evolution over the past 50 years. Currently, surgical treatment of Crohn disease is seldom performed in the emergency setting; it is nearly always performed after failed medical therapy. The general indications for surgical treatment are described and include specific attention to complications of the disease, including obstruction, symptomatic fistulas, abscess formation, cancer or dysplasia, and failure to grow. The special considerations of surgical therapy are also described, including pregnancy, the marking of stoma sites, and the choice of incision, which may involve laparoscopy. Surgical management of Crohn disease is evaluated in terms of therapy at specific sites, including esophageal, gastric, and duodenal disease; jejunoileal disease; ileocolic disease; colonic disease; and anal disease. Chemoprophylaxis is also described, as is surveillance and behavioral modification. Tables outline the Vienna Classification System, Crohn Disease Activity Index, Harvey-Bradshaw Index, extraintestinal manifestations, and the medical treatment of Crohn disease. Figures show endoscopic images of Crohn disease, computed tomographic enterography, a capsule endoscopy showing large Crohn structures, surgery rates over time, caput medusa, an example of stenotic ileocolic Crohn disease, an enterocutaneous fistula, Heineke-Mikulicz strictureplasty, Finney strictureplasty, a fibrotic stricture, an example of a large ulcer, pyoderma gangrenosum, a sigmoid colon stricture, toxic megacolon, and vessel loops for drainage of abscesses. This review contains 15 figures, 5 tables, and 76 references.