Abstract

Abstract Background Crohn's disease is an inflammatory enterocolitis, which may be complicated by enteroenteric, enterovesical, rectovaginal, enterocutaneous and anoperineal fistulas. This is a retrospective study of fistulizing Crohn's disease cases followed in our gastroenterology department. Methods We report a retrospective and descriptive study, covering all cases of fistulizing Crohn's disease, collected in the hepato-gastroenterology department at our university hospital center during a 9-year study period, from 2015 to 2023. All patients with digestive and/or anal crohn's fistula were included. Comparison of categorical variables was performed with Fisher's exact test using SPSS 10.0 software. The significance level was p < 0.05. Results 125 patients had a fistulizing form of Crohn's disease. The location of fistulas was represented by anoperineal fistulas (32.6%), followed by enteroenteral (22.9%) and enterocutaneous (23%) fistulas, then enterovesical (9%) and rectovaginal (3.8%) fistulas. Surgical treatment was immediately indicated in all cases of enterocutaneous and enterovesical fistulas, and 66.7% of rectovaginal fistulas. Proctological drainage was performed in 57.1% of cases of anoperineal fistulas. 33 cases of anoperineal fistulas and one case of recto-vaginal fistulas were treated with infliximab. Clinical remission was also significantly associated with medical treatment with biologics versus immunosuppressants (P=0.0018). Surgical treatment remains indicated in the majority of cases of fistulizing Crohn's disease. Conclusion Fistulizing Crohn's disease poses a problem for medical and surgical management. Surgical treatment remains indicated in the majority of Crohn's fistula cases. This study also showed that endoscopic recurrence and clinical remission were significantly associated with the type of postoperative medical treatment.

Full Text
Published version (Free)

Talk to us

Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have

Schedule a call