Surgical approaches to perianal Crohn's disease

Abstract

Virtually one-third of patients with Crohn’s disease (CD) develop anal symptoms. In addition to the typical skin tags and chronic fissures, 50% of these patients develop perianal abscesses and fistulas, which are among the most challenging CD phenotypes to treat. They can significantly affect patients’ quality of life (QOL) and result in a significant amount of lost days at school or work, as they often occur in a young, active population.