ORIGINAL ARTICLES   

Minerva Chirurgica 2004 June;59(3):283-8

Copyright © 2004 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: Italian

Surgical therapy of Crohn’s disease: observations on 63 patients

Rossi A., Sforza N., Landolfo G., Malagoli M.

Aim. The purpose of our retrospective study is to evaluate the correct indications for the surgical therapy of Crohn's disease.
Methods. Our case series consists of 63 patients admitted to our Surgery Department from January 1, 1973 to December 2002 with a diagnosis of Crohn's disease. Of the 56 operated patients, 43 patients were followed-up. For an objective evaluation of the Crohn's disease activity, the Crohn's Disease Activity Index (CDAI) was used. Surgical treatment has been carried out in 56 cases: in 29 cases of intestinal occlusion a minimal gut resection was performed; in the 26 cases of perforation a suture of the perforation was preferred, with a drainage of the peritoneal cavity and a toilette of abscess when it was present, and in 1 case an ileocolic resection was performed.
Results. Only 1 case showed a CDAI score >150 (153.63). This shows that in all the other cases the surgical and medical treatment has led to a satisfactory control of the disease. A relapse has been observed in 17 patients after an average period of 5 years without showing signs of disease.
Conclusion. It is suggested that Crohn's disease therapy should be mainly of a medical nature and surgical treatment should be reserved for complicated cases.