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Surgical management of Crohn’s disease

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Abstract

Introduction

Crohn’s disease is an inflammatory bowel disease that can affect the entire gastrointestinal tract. It is chronic and incurable, and the mainstay of therapy is medical management with surgical intervention as complications arise. Surgery is required in approximately 70% of patients with Crohn’s disease. Because repeat interventions are often needed, these patients may benefit from bowel-sparing techniques and minimally invasive approaches. Various bowel-sparing techniques, including strictureplasty, can be applied to reduce the risk of short-bowel syndrome.

Methods

A review of the available literature using the PubMed search engine was undertaken to compile data on the surgical treatment of Crohn’s disease.

Results and conclusion

Data support the use of laparoscopy in treating Crohn’s disease, although the potential technical challenges in these settings mandate appropriate prerequisite surgical expertise.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of General and GI Surgery, Colorectal Surgery, Emory University, 1365 Clifton Rd. NE, Suite 3300, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA

    Virginia Oliva Shaffer

  2. Department of Colorectal Surgery, Cleveland Clinic Florida, 2950 Cleveland Clinic Blvd, Weston, FL, 33331, USA

    Steven D. Wexner

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  1. Virginia Oliva Shaffer
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  2. Steven D. Wexner
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Correspondence to Steven D. Wexner.

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Shaffer, V.O., Wexner, S.D. Surgical management of Crohn’s disease. Langenbecks Arch Surg 398, 13–27 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00423-012-0919-7

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