Resection Margin Involvement with Crohn's Disease and Postoperative Anastomotic Integrity

Abstract

A prospective double-blind trial was conducted in Crohn's disease subjects in whom a resection was being performed, to assess the hypothesis that marginal disease would adversely influence healing of the anastomosis. Of 106 eligible patients. 51 completed a protocol of pathological assessment of the surgical specimen and a water soluble contrast enema 10 to 15 days after the surgical procedure. Six were found to have radiological leaks and three additional subjects had clinical leaks from the anastomosis. The proportion of leaks, both clinical and radiological, was nine of 54. There was no trend to increasing rate of anastomotic breakdown with increasing marginal disease.