Severe stricturing Crohn's disease of the duodenum: A case report and review of surgical options

INTRODUCTIONDuodenal Crohn's disease is a rare clinical entity that occurs in 0.5–4.0% of patients with Crohn's disease. A unique case of Crohn's disease of the upper gastrointestinal tract characterized by multiple strictures within the duodenum and jejunum is described in our review.PRESENTATION OF CASEA 41-year-old male presented with a 2-month history of intermittent, crampy abdominal pain accompanied by nausea, bilious emesis, early satiety, anorexia and weight loss. Physical examination revealed fullness in the epigastric region. Imaging demonstrated strictures in the proximal and distal duodenum with dilatation of the intervening segments. There was also gross dilatation of the proximal jejunum, which was followed by a 9 cm strictured segment. There was no evidence of acute Crohn's disease. Although a Whipple's resection was initially considered as a form of operative intervention given the extent of disease within the duodenum, the discovery of unexpected disease intra-operatively presented a surgical dilemma. In this case, strictureplasty, surgical resection and bypass were used to treat the patient.DISCUSSIONDiffuse stricturing of the proximal gastrointestinal tract is a rare manifestation of Crohn's disease. Although imaging can aid in surgical planning, intra-operative decision-making to deal with unexpected findings will remain an important aspect of the management of this entity.CONCLUSIONThe fundamental goal of the surgical management of strictures secondary to Crohn's disease is to relieve obstruction while maximizing bowel conservation. A variety of operative techniques are currently described for the management of duodenal Crohn's disease and are reviewed in this case report.     

英夫利西单抗联合保留括约肌手术治疗肛周克罗恩病的疗效分析

目的 评价静脉注射英夫利西单抗联合保留括约肌手术治疗肛周克罗恩病的临床疗效.方法 回顾性分析2010年5月-2014年6月在江苏省中医院肛肠科接受英夫利西单抗联合保留括约肌手术治疗的49例肛周克罗思病患者(3例非瘘管性肛周克罗恩病和46例瘘管性肛周克罗恩病)的临床资料,每次注射药物时以住院的方式进行,并作为随访资料.监测治疗前后的瘘管闭合情况,通过Wilcoxon检验评价C-反应蛋白、肛周克罗恩病活动指数等结果.结果 所有患者初始诱导治疗后均有应答,C-反应蛋白治疗前为[16.9(6.6,35.6)] mg/L,末次随访时C-反应蛋白为[4.5(1.5,15.9)] mg/L,差异有统计学意义(Z=-3.994,P=O.00);肛周克罗恩病活动指数治疗前[7(4.5,10.5)]分,末次随访时肛周克罗恩病活动指数为[1(0,4.5)]分,差异有统计学意义(Z=-6.100,P=O.00);末次随访时56.5％ (26/46)的患者达到瘘管闭合,28.3％ (13/46)的患者症状改善,15.2％ (7/46)的患者失去应答.2例患者肛管溃疡愈合,1例患者单纯疣状皮赘未再发生其他肛周病变.结论 英夫利西单抗结合保留括约肌手术治疗肛周克罗恩病可以提高瘘管闭合率,有效改善肛周症状.     

ANAL PATHOLOGY IN PATIENTS WITH CROHN'S DISEASE

Background: A distinctive feature of patients suffering from Crohn's disease is a predisposition to develop a variety of anal complications. The aetiology of such conditions is unclear, and the reported incidence of anal involvement in Crohn's disease varies party due to the various criteria used for classification. This study aims to review the management of patients with symptomatic anal pathology associated with Crohn's disease at St Vincent's Hospital, Melbourne. Methods : A database of 306 patients with Crohn's disease referred to the department between January 1978 and October 1994 was reviewed to identify those patients with symptomatic anal disease. The anal pathology was recorded and classified. Demographic data and the clinical and surgical history of the patient were recorded. Results : Of the 306 patients with Crohn's disease, 129 (42.4%) were identified as having symptomatic anal pathology. Patients were likely to present with anal symptoms after they had been diagnosed as having intestinal Crohn's disease (46.1%). The commonest presentations were perianal abscess (29.5%), anal fissure (27.6%), and low anal fistula (26.7%). A minority of patients presented with highkomplex anal fistulae (3.8%), or recto-vaginal fistulae (5.2%). Five per cent of patients had Crohn's disease localized to the anal area. The pattern of intestinal disease in the remaining patients was small bowel 21.1%. small bowel and colon 31.9%, and colon 43.0%. A total of 244 local anal surgical procedures were performed on these patients; the commonest of these were drainage of an abscess (38.5%), examination under anaesthetic (29.1%). and laying open of a low anal fistula (22.5%). Following surgical treatment, the recurrence rate for perianal abscesses was 13%, and for low anal fistulae 6%. Conclusions : The majority of patients with Crohn's disease who develop anal pathology have an excellent prognosis. A minority of patients develop complex anal fistulae and these remain a therapeutic challenge.     

Surgery for acute Crohn's colitis: Results and long term follow-up

Acute Crohn's disease of the colon requiring emergency surgery is uncommon, but may be increasing in frequency. Between 1954 and 1981, 215 patients had surgery for acute inflammatory bowel disease at St. Mark's Hospital, and of these 18 had acute Crohn's colitis. There was one postoperative death, and the remaining patients were followed up for an average of 8 years. Ten patients had toxic dilatation, two a toxic dilatation with free perforation, three had perforation without dilatation and in three surgery was required for an acute deterioration. Surgical treatment included proctocolectomy (one), colectomy and ileostomy (fourteen), colectomy and ileorectal anastomosis (two) and defunctioning ileostomy alone (one). Subsequent rectal excision was necessary in ten of sixteen patients. Acute colonic Crohn's disease requiring surgery is less likely than ulcerative colitis to be amenable to restorative surgery despite a policy of rectal conservation.     

Resolving sphincter of Oddi incontinence for primary duodenal Crohn's disease with strictureplasty

INTRODUCTIONCrohn's involvement of duodenum is a rare event and may be associated to proteiform symptoms and uncommon pathological aspects which make diagnosis and treatment complex.PRESENTATION OF CASEThe peculiar aspect of this case was a suspected duodeno-biliary fistula. The patient (female, 22 years old) was affected by duodenal Crohn's disease. Magnetic resonance imaging showed a dilated common bile duct, whose final part linked to a formation containing fluid, and characterized by filling of the contrast medium in the excretory phase. Abdominal ultrasound showed intra-hepatic and intra-gallbladder aerobilia. At surgery, the duodenum was mobilized showing an inflammatory stricture and a slight dilatation of the common bile duct, with no signs of fistulas. The opened duodenum was anastomized side to side to a transmesocolic loop of the jejunum. After surgery, the general condition of the patient improved.DISCUSSIONOnly two cases of fistula between a narrow duodenal bulb and the common bile duct have been described in literature and the Authors were not be able to verify the occurrence of a duodenal biliary fistula at surgery. The association between duodenal Crohn's disease and Sphincter of Oddi incontinence is a very rare finding with different etiology: chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction, common bile duct stones, progressive systemic sclerosis.CONCLUSIONThe treatment to resolve Sphincter of Oddi incontinence for primary duodenal Crohn's disease is not clear. Strictureplasty could be the treatment of choice, because, resolving the stricture, the duodenal pressure is likely to decrease and the reflux through the incontinent sphincter can be avoided.     

AN AUSTRALIAN EXPERIENCE OF CROHN'S DISEASE

A computer analysis has been made of the clinical experience of Crohn's disease of one of the authors (E.S.R.H.) (1950-78: 50 patients) and of the Alfred Hospital Medical staff, Melbourne (1959-78: 39 patients). The mean follow-up period for the combined data was 6.2 years. Sixty-two of the 89 patients were female and 27 male. The small intestine was involved in 24 patients, the large intestine in 21, and both small and large intestine in 44. Symptoms were related to the anatomical localization of the disease. Four patients have died (two postoperative deaths and two unrelated to Crohn's disease). Sixty-nine of the 89 patients required an operative procedure, and 53 underwent one or more definitive operations with curative intention. A total of 165 operations were performed, 88 of which were definitive. Thirty-four patients developed recurrence, defined to include reactivation of disease in intestinal segments left in situ. Ten patients developed two or more recurrences. Multiple recurrences were most frequent after Operation for combined small and large intestinal Crohn's disease. No patient with large-intestinal Crohn's disease alone developed more than one recurrence. Each patient undergoing subtotal colectomy and ileorectal anastomosis (six patients) or ileostomy (nine patients) required one or more further definitive operations. Recurrence was more frequent after the first than the second definitive operation (P= 0.02), the median recurrence-free intervals being 12 and 23 months respectively.     

CROHN'S DISEASE OF THE OESOPHAGUS: A CASE REPORT

The first case of oesophageal Crohn's disease in a Black African is reported. Transmural chronic inflammatory changes with multiple intramural fistulous tracts were seen in the resected oesophagus of this patient, and these are characteristic features of Crohn's disease. The criteria for a diagnosis of Crohn's disease of the oesophagus are discussed.     

MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING FACILITATES ASSESSMENT OF PERIANAL CROHN'S DISEASE

Three illustrative cases of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in patients with perianal Crohn's disease are presented. Modern MRI techniques provided excellent visualization of perineal anatomy, inflammatory tissues and an anorectal stricture. It also allowed detailed delineation of the patho-anatomy of fistulous abscess and any communication to more proximal bowel. This report illustrates the potential of modern MRI as an important investigative adjunct in evaluating the anorectal manifestations of Crohn's disease.     

RESULTS OF MULTIPLE STRICTUREPUSTIES IN DIFFUSE CROHN'S DISEASE OF THE SMALL BOWEL

With extensive small bowel strictures due to Crohn's disease, resectional surgery may lead to short bowel syndrome. Strictureplasty (SP) has emerged as a useful alternative for selected strictures. This study reviews the results of 42 patients with diffuse obstructive Crohn's disease of the small bowel in whom at least four SP were performed in each patient (median: 7; range: 4–15; total SP: 315). Twenty-three patients (55%) had had 1–5 previous small bowel resections. Co-existing perforative disease was present in four patients (10%). Synchronous resection of a separate segment of small bowel was performed in 22 patients (52%). There was no operative mortality. Enterocutaneous fistula and/or intra-abdominal abscess developed in three patients (7%) and only one of these needed operative intervention. The median follow-up was 3 years (range: 10 months to 7 years). After SP, all patients experienced relief from obstructive symptoms. The median weight gain was 3 kg (range: -1–21 kg) and more than half the patients were weaned off steroids. Symptomatic recurrence occurred in 10 patients (24%) and was due to strictures (N= 9) and/or perforative disease (N = 2) at new site(s) unrelated to previous SP. Rate of symptomatic restricture of the SP site was 1.6% and was associated with new strictures elsewhere in all cases. Thus, in selected cases, SP is a safe and effective treatment for diffuse Crohn's strictures.     

Laparoscopic surgery in Crohn's disease

Background: An effort was made to assess the feasibility, safety, and outcome of laparoscopic procedures performed in patients with Crohn's disease. Methods: A prospectively maintained laparoscopic database was analyzed regarding operation time, intra- and postoperative complications, conversion to laparotomy, and length of hospitalization. Fifty-one patients (23 males and 28 females) with a mean age of 36 (20–79) years underwent a laparoscopic or laparoscopic-assisted procedure for Crohn's disease. The indications included terminal ileitis in 31 patients, colitis in 11, perianal disease in four, duodenal Crohn's disease in three, and rectovaginal and rectourethral fistula in one patient each. Thirty-two patients underwent an ileocolic resection; total abdominal colectomy with ileorectal anastomosis was performed in six patients with end ileostomy in one, take down of end ileostomy and ileorectal anastomosis in three, duodenal bypass gastrojejunostomy in three, and loop ileostomy in six patients. Results: The mean operating time was 2.4 (0.6–4.5) h and the mean length of hospital stay was 5.1 (3–18) days. Eight complications were noted in seven patients (14%), which included enterotomy in two patients, bleeding in two, stoma obstruction in two, pelvic sepsis in one, and efferent limb obstruction in one. The procedure was converted to laparotomy in seven patients (14%) due to a large inflammatory mass in five and to bleeding in two patients; there was no mortality. Conclusion: Laparoscopic surgery is a feasible, versatile, and safe modality in the surgical management of Crohn's disease. Despite the often-malnourished state of these steroid-dependent patients with intraabdominal inflammatory conditions, morbidity, procedural length, and length-of-hospitalization data are all similar to results previously reported for less-challenging laparoscopic colorectal procedures.     

Anal and rectal cancer in Crohn's disease

Several epidemiological studies have been published regarding the risk of Crohn's disease‐ associated colorectal cancer. The findings are, however, contradictory and it has been particularly difficult to obtain indisputable information on the incidence of cancer limited to the rectum and the anus. During 1987–2000 rectal or anal cancer was diagnosed in 335 patients in Sweden (153 males, 182 females). In other words, approximately 3 Crohn patients per million inhabitants were diagnosed with rectal or anal cancer every year during that time period which is 1% of the total number of cases. At diagnosis of cancer 36% were aged below 50 years and 58% below 60 years. Corresponding figures for all cases of anal and rectal cancer were 5% and 18%, respectively. Present knowledge from the literature implies that there is an increased risk of rectal and anal cancer only in Crohn's disease patients with severe proctitis or severe chronic perianal disease. However, the rectal remnant must also be considered a risk factor. Multimodal treatment is similar to that in sporadic cancer but proctectomy and total or partial colectomy is added depending on the extent of the Crohn's disease. The outcome is the same as in sporadic cancer at a corresponding stage but the prognosis is often poor due to the advanced stage of cancer at diagnosis. We suggest that six high‐risk groups should be recommended annual surveillance after a duration of Crohn's disease of 15 years including extensive colitis, chronic severe anorectal disese, rectal remnant, strictures, bypassed segments and sclerosing cholangitis.     

SUCCESSFUL TREATMENT OF IDIOPATHIC MEMBRANOUS GLOMERULONEPHRITIS COMPLICATED WITH RENAL VEIN THROMBOSIS WITH FK506

A case of immunoglobulin A nephropathy (IgAN) complicating a 10-year history of biopsy-proven Crohn's disease in a 31-year-old man is described. The patient presented with mild proteinuria and impaired renal function in the setting of an exacerbation of Crohn's disease. Renal biopsy showed IgAN. The patient responded to steroid treatment with clinical remission of the bowel disease and improvement of renal function, while proteinuria remained unchanged. IgA glomerulonephritis is rarely associated with Crohn's disease with only a few previously described cases. We briefly review these cases together with an overview of potential pathophysiological connections between these two diseases.     

Laparoscopic surgery for lower gastrointestinal fistulas

Background: Increased experience and improved instrumentation have lead to a reduction in morbidity and a commensurate increase in the spectrum of laparoscopic indications. The purpose of this study was to assess the feasibility of laparoscopic surgery in patients with gastrointestinal fistulas. Methods: Between March 1993 and March 1995, patients with gastrointestinal fistulas who were laparoscopically treated were analyzed for age, gender, diagnosis, type of procedure, operative time, conversion rate, length of postoperative hospitalization, time until oral intake and return of bowel function, morbidity, and mortality. Results: Ten patients (five females; five males) with a mean age of 49.7 (range 20–86) years were preoperatively diagnosed as having the following fistulas: colocutaneous fistula due to diverticulitis (one), enterocolic fistula (two)—due to Crohn's ileocolitis (one) and due to diverticulitis (one)—pouchvaginal fistula after restorative proctocolectomy for familial adenomatous polyposis (two), colofallopian fistula due to diverticulitis (one), rectourethral fistula due to Crohn's disease (one), high transsphincteric fistula due to perianal Crohn's disease (one), enteroenteric fistula due to Crohn's disease (one), and colovesical fistula due to diverticulitis (one). Procedures performed consisted of sigmoidectomy with coloproctostomy (four), ileocolic resection (two), small-bowel resection with ileostomy (one), and diverting loop ileostomy (three). A complex jejunal enterotomy was noted in one (10%) patient. The mean operative time was 195 (range 75–360) min and mean postoperative hospital stay was 6.1 (range 3–12) days. Two additional cases were converted to open procedures for extensive disease (one) and adhesions (one). The patients started oral intake after a mean of 2.2 (range 1–5) days and bowel function returned after a mean of 3.4 (range 2–7) days. One patient required laparotomy on postoperative day 7 for a malrotated loop ileostomy. Conclusions: Laparoscopic colorectal surgery is feasible in patients with simple lower gastrointestinal fistulas. The morbidity rate of 10% and length of hospitalization of 6 days are similar to results after laparoscopic procedures for ``simpler'' colorectal pathology. However, the 30% conversion rate is higher, attesting to the challenging nature of these conditions.     

Massive per rectal bleeding following blunt abdominal trauma: First presentation of Crohn's disease

Introduction

Inflammatory bowel disease is a chronic and relatively common disorder with heterogeneous presentation. Peak incidence occurs in the second and third decades of life. We present a patient with Crohn''s disease whose first presentation was profuse bleeding/rectum following blunt abdominal trauma.

presentation of case

A 29 year old previously healthy man presented one hour after sustaining relatively mild abdominal trauma, due to fall onto the ball during a rugby match. He complained of abdominal pain and one episode of large fresh rectal bleeding. He was pale and distressed with hypotension, tachycardia and abdominal guarding & fresh blood on digital rectal examination. With a provisional diagnosis of intestinal injury he was taken to theatre. Right hemi-colectomy was done for a thickened and inflamed segment of distal ileum, a large adjacent mesenteric haematoma & mesenteric lymph nodes and blood in distal bowel. Histology confirmed the features of Crohn''s disease.

discussion

Crohn''s disease is unusual cause of massive lower gastrointestinal bleeding occurring in 0.9–6% of patients. Rectal bleeding associated with diarrhoea is relatively more common than massive bleeding. The presence of Crohn''s disease in young patients presenting like this is unlikely to be suspected and diagnosis could only be made after laparotomy.     

Imaging of bowel in patients requiring surgery for Crohn's disease

The aim of this article is to highlight the different imaging modalities used in patients with Crohn's disease, their strengths and weaknesses, and discuss standard nomenclature for imaging findings for Crohn's disease.     

Gossypiboma Presenting as Coloduodenal Fistula – Report of a Rare Case With Review of Literature

The term gossypiboma is used to describe a mass of cotton matrix left behind in a body cavity intraoperatively. The most common site reported is the abdominal cavity. It can present with abscess, intestinal obstruction, malabsorption, gastrointestinal hemorrhage, and fistulas. A 37-year-old woman presented with pain in the right hypochondrium for 2 months following open cholecystectomy. As she did not improve with proton pump inhibitors, an esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) was done, which showed a possible gauze piece stained with bile in the first part of the duodenum. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CECT) of the abdomen revealed an abnormal fistulous communication of the first part of duodenum with proximal transverse colon, with a hypodense, mottled lesion within the lumen of the proximal transverse colon plugging the fistula, suggestive of a gossypiboma. Excision of the coloduodenal fistula, primary duodenal repair, and feeding jejunostomy was done. The patient recovered well and is now tolerating normal diet. Coloduodenal fistula is usually caused by Crohn''s disease, malignancy, right-sided diverticulitis, and gall stone disease. Isolated coloduodenal fistula due to gossypiboma has not been reported in the literature so far to the best of our knowledge. We report this case of coloduodenal fistula secondary to gossypiboma for its rarity and diagnostic challenge.Key words: Surgical sponges, Intestinal fistula, Multidetector computed tomographyThe first report of a coloduodenal fistula was by Haldane in 1862, and it was malignant from the hepatic flexure.¹ Coloduodenal fistula is caused by Crohn''s disease, malignancy, right-sided diverticulitis, and gall stone disease, but isolated coloduodenal fistula due to gossypiboma has not been reported in the literature to the best of our knowledge. Gossypiboma is known to present as intra-abdominal abscess, intestinal obstruction, and fistulization, but coloduodenal fistula has not been reported as a mode of presentation. We report this case of coloduodenal fistula secondary to gossypiboma for its rarity and diagnostic challenge.     

Incidence of pathogenic bacteria from mesenteric lymph nodes and ileal serosa during Crohn's disease surgery

Samples of ileal serosa and mesenteric lymph nodes have been harvested before antibiotic administration during 46 non-contaminated operations for Crohn's disease and compared with 43 operations for conditions other than Crohn's. Potentially pathogenic bacteria were isolated from the serosa in 12 (27 per cent) Crohn's patients, compared with 6 (15 per cent) controls (P = 0.04). Intestinal bacteria were recovered from mesenteric nodes in 15 (33 per cent) Crohn's patients compared with 2 (5 per cent) controls (P = 0.006). These findings suggest that bacteria leak from the small bowel lumen in a high proportion of Crohn's disease patients. This may explain the pathogenesis of abscess and fistula in this disorder as well as the high rate of sepsis following elective surgery even in the absence of macroscopic contamination.     

Crohn's disease of the ileoanal pouch

Crohn's disease of the ileoanal pouch is a known albeit infrequent outcome of restorative proctocolectomy with ileoanal reservoir for inflammatory bowel disease colitides. Although an adverse outcome, many patients will benefit from a combined medical-surgical multidisciplinary approach to pouch retention. In this review article, we will discuss inflammatory disorders of the body of the pouch and the rectal cuff which lay on a spectrum, including pouchitis, cuffitis and Crohn's disease of the ileoanal pouch. It is imperative that readers fully understand conditions on both sides of the spectrum as treatments often overlap and it is necessary to undergo many of the mentioned treatments, or at least consider them, before undergoing what can be complex, re-operative abdominopelvic surgery with permanent re-diversion with the pouch left in situ, pouch excision or rarely pouch revision. We will also discuss outcomes of intentional ileoanal pouch for isolated Crohn's colitis.     

INFLAMMATORY DISEASES OF THE BOWEL: A MALAYSIAN EXPERIENCE1

A 10-year experience in the diagnosis and treatment of 92 patients with inflammatory bowel diseases in Kuala Lumpur is described. Tuberculosis (34 cases) was the most common inflammatory bowel disease of surgical importance. The clinical presentation of tuberculous enteritis and Crohn's disease is similar, though tuberculosis is strongly suggested by associated pulmonary disease and radiological evidence of caecal involvement. The finding of 10 cases each of Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis is in keeping with an increased awareness of these conditions in a developing urban society where facilities exist for thorough investigation of diarrhoeal diseases. Amoebiasis sometimes causes a granulomatous lesion simulating carcinoma. Diverticular disease of the colon as known in the West is of very rare occurrence.     

克罗恩病患者骨密度、骨代谢以及钙、镁、锌和磷水平特点分析

目的分析克罗恩病患者骨密度、骨代谢以及钙、镁、锌和磷水平特点。方法选取62例克罗恩病患者,按照克罗恩病活动指数(CDAI)分为活动组和缓解组;检测患者血清抗酒石酸盐酸性磷酸酶异构体5b(TRACP-5b)、人骨碱性磷酸酶(BALP)、骨钙素(BGP)和人胶原交联羧基末端肽(CTX)的水平;测定血清钙、磷、镁、锌和患者腰椎(L_(1～4))及左侧股骨密度。结果活动组患者的腰椎(L_(1～4))及左侧股骨骨密度较低,血清钙、磷、镁、锌以及成骨代谢指标BALP、BGP较低,破骨代谢指标TRACP-5b和CTX水平较高。两组患者上述各种指标比较有统计学意义(P0.05)。结论在关注克罗恩病患者骨代谢和骨密度异常的问题上,也需要关注其电解质异常。