Crohn's Disease

Abstract

Of a series of 133 patients treated surgically for Crohn's disease during the years 1962–78, 21 had recurrence after previous operations in other hospitals. In addition, 40 of the patients underwent altogether 52 reoperations for recurrent disease; hence the total number of operations was 185. Five patients died in the postoperative period (2.7%). There were five late deaths related to Crohn's disease. The annual recurrence rate after all operations performed was rather constant, averaging 13.1%, and the cumulative recurrence rate after 10 years was 76.1%. The annual rate of reoperation tended to decline, with a cumulative reoperation rate of 35.8% after 10 years. The recurrence rate was not significantly different after primary operations and operations for recurrent disease. There was a higher risk of relapse during the first 2 years after non-radical excision of diseased gut than after radical excision. At follow-up examination in 108 patients most were in good general condition. Only eight patients had severe, disabling symptoms with reduced working capacity.

Key words:

• Colectomy
• Crohn's disease
• enteritis
• regional
• surgery
• ileostomy
• intestine
• large
• intestine
• small