Strictureplasty in Crohn’s Disease: Short and Long-Term Follow-Up

Strictureplasty for obstructive Crohn’s disease is still controversial because lesions are left in place and the suture is performed on a diseased bowel. Many surgeons prefer to perform bowel resection, hoping for fewer complications and a lower recurrence rate. In this paper, the authors report their strictureplasty experience. They performed a systematic retrospective review of the patients suffering from Crohn’s disease who underwent strictureplasties during a 10-year period in the abdominal surgery department of the University Hospital of Liège Sart Tilman, and studied the short-and long-term clinical results of 68 strictureplasties performed in 18 patients. Median follow-up was 63 months (range 12 to 144). Mortality was 0% and septic morbidity was 11% (one wound abscess and one leakage). Among the 16 patients available for the latest follow-up, symptomatic stenotic recurrence had to be medically treated in hospital for 4 patients (25%) with a recurrence delay range of 19 to 49 months. Stenosis recurrence needed re-intervention in one patient 48 months after surgery: stenosis occurred at a distance from the corrected site. These results confirmed that strictureplasty is a safe and efficient procedure in selected patients undergoing surgery for obstructive Crohn’s disease.     

Ten-year experience of strictureplasty for obstructive Crohn's disease

Strictureplasty is controversial in the management of obstructive Crohn's disease. Only a small proportion of patients undergoing surgery for obstructive Crohn's disease are suitable for strictureplasty. Lesions which are most amenable for this procedure are short, fibrous strictures. Over a 10-year period 24 patients have undergone 30 operations at which 86 strictureplasties were performed. The median follow-up has been 40 (range 4-112) months. No leaks or fistulae arose from the strictureplasties. The median weight gain 3 months postoperatively was +4.0 kg. Four patients subsequently required a further 13 strictureplasty procedures, between 12 and 36 (median 18) months after the initial operation; all but one of the previous strictureplasties were patent. Thirteen patients have been symptom free following surgery, four have required further medical therapy for recurrent Crohn's disease and three have sustained episodes of self-limiting intestinal colic. Strictureplasty is a safe and effective procedure in selected patients undergoing surgery for obstructive Crohn's disease.     

Factors affecting the incidence of postoperative septic complications and recurrence after strictureplasty for jejunoileal Crohn's disease.

BACKGROUND: This retrospective study was undertaken to examine the long-term outcome of strictureplasty for Crohn's disease and factors affecting the incidence of postoperative septic complications and recurrence. METHODS: Eighty-seven patients who underwent 245 primary jejunoileal strictureplasties for jejunoileal Crohn's disease between 1980 and 1997 were reviewed. RESULTS: Septic complications (fistula/abscess) occurred in 7 patients (all at strictureplasty site). Only intra-abdominal sepsis with peritoneal contamination at laparotomy was significantly associated with these complications. After a median follow-up of 104 months, 49 patients (56%) developed symptomatic recurrence. In 11 patients, symptomatic recurrence was successfully managed by medical treatment. Thirty-eight patients (44%) required further surgery for recurrence. Only young age (< or = 37 years) was associated with high incidence of reoperation for recurrence. Preoperative steroid use, nutritional status, synchronous bowel resection, and number, site, or length of strictureplasties did not affect the incidence of septic complications and recurrence requiring reoperation. CONCLUSIONS: Intra-abdominal sepsis with peritoneal contamination increased the incidence of septic complications. Only young age was associated with the increased risk of recurrence requiring reoperation.     

Strictureplasty in Crohn's disease.

Fifty patients with fibrotic small bowel strictures secondary to long-standing Crohn's disease underwent a total of 225 strictureplasties during the period from June 1984 to July 1988. Forty-two patients (84%) presented with obstructive symptoms. Patients had a 1- to 30-year history of Crohn's disease (mean, 14 years). Sixty-two per cent of patients were taking steroids at the time of admission, and 70% had had previous small bowel resections. All patients had one or more areas of small bowel affected with a fibrotic stricture and partial obstruction. Short strictures were treated by Heinecke-Mikulicz strictureplasties, and longer strictures by Finney side-to-side strictureplasties. In 30 patients (60%), 6- to 65-cm segments of small bowel were also resected due to acute inflammation with phlegmon or fistulae. Patients were discharged from the hospital 5 to 20 days after operation (mean, 10 days). After operation all patients with obstructive symptoms reported relief of symptoms and weight gain. Steroid doses could be tapered and nutritional parameters, such as total lymphocyte count, and serum albumin improved. Strictureplasty had 0% mortality and 16% morbidity rates. Complications included 3 enterocutaneous fistulae, 2 intra-abdominal abscesses, 2 hemorrhages requiring transfusion, 1 prolonged postoperative ileus that could be treated conservatively in 2 patients, and 1 restricture of a strictureplasty. Patients were followed for 1 to 40 months after operation (mean, 8 months). Resection of small bowel disease, especially that associated with perforation, is usually required in Crohn's disease. However, strictureplasty minimizes the need for bowel resection in patients with short fibrotic strictures resulting in recurrent small bowel obstruction.     

Strategy for Surgical Management of Ileocolonic Anastomotic Recurrence in Crohn's Disease

After resection for ileocecal or ileocolonic Crohn's disease anastomotic recurrence is common, and many patients require further surgery. This study reviews our overall experience of surgery for ileocolonic anastomotic recurrence of Crohn's disease so we can propose a strategy for management. A series of 109 patients who underwent surgery for anastomotic recurrence after ileocecal or ileocolonic resection for Crohn's disease between 1984 and 1997 were reviewed. Ileocolonic recurrence was treated by strictureplasty in 39 patients and resection in 70 (with sutured end-to-end anastomosis, 48; stapled side-to-side anastomosis, 22). Stapled anastomosis has been frequently used between 1995 and 1997. Short recurrence was mainly treated by strictureplasty, and long or perforating disease was resected. Coexisting small bowel disease was more common in the patients having strictureplasty. Septic complications (leak/fistula/abscess) related to the ileocolonic procedure occurred in 1 of 39 patients (3%) after strictureplasty, in 6 of 48 (13%) after resection with sutured anastomosis, and in none of 22 after resection with stapled anastomosis. The median duration of follow-up was 90 months after strictureplasty, 105 months after resection with sutured anastomosis, and 22 months after resection with stapled anastomosis. Altogether 18 of 39 patients (46%) after strictureplasty, 22 of 48 (46%) after resection with sutured anastomosis, and none of 22 after resection with stapled anastomosis required further surgery for suture line recurrence. In conclusion, strictureplasty is useful for short ileocolonic recurrence in patients with multifocal small bowel disease or previous extensive resection. Stapled side-to-side anastomosis was associated with a low incidence of complications, and early recurrence was not observed, although the duration of follow-up was short.     

Intervention-free Interval following Strictureplasty for Crohn’s Disease

Introduction Strictureplasty is now well established as a bowel-sparing alternative for surgical treatment of complicated Crohn’s disease. Limited resection is still preferred in patients with uncomplicated disease, as subsequent reoperation rates are low. Methods A retrospective review of 26 patients who underwent surgery for small bowel Crohn’s disease between 1996 and 2004 was undertaken. A total of 96 small bowel strictureplasties had been performed; 19 patients had strictureplasties performed in isolation, and the remaining 7 patients underwent strictureplasty with concomitant limited resection. Results There was no operative mortality. The median follow-up was 41 months. Four patients developed complications that required further surgery. At 41 months, 73.3% of patients undergoing strictureplasty alone and 79.7% undergoing strictureplasty with concomitant resection were intervention-free. If followed up to 70 months or more, the same proportion of patients would remain intervention-free. Four patients developed further recrudescent disease and required surgery: strictureplasty, limited resection, or both. Of these patients, 25% were intervention-free at 41 months. Conclusions Our results show that strictureplasty alone or with concomitant resection can confer intervention-free periods of 41 months or more in 73.3% of patients, suggesting that strictureplasty can be utilized as an alternative to limited resection in uncomplicated Crohn’s disease.     

The impact of disease pattern, surgical management, and individual surgeons on the risk for relaparotomy for recurrent Crohn''s disease.

OBJECTIVE: The authors provide a multivariate analysis of a large single-center experience with limited surgery for Crohn's disease. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: During the past decade, the aim of surgery for Crohn's disease has shifted from radical operation, achieving inflammation-free margins of resection, to "minimal surgery," intended to remove just grossly inflamed tissue or performing strictureplasties. METHODS: Seven hundred ninety-three cases of resection and/or strictureplasty in 689 individuals with histologically verified Crohn's disease were followed for a mean period of 50 months (range, 5-166 months). Two different end points were analyzed: 1) any relaparotomy for recurrent (or persistent) Crohn's disease and 2) relaparotomy for site-specific recurrence. More than 30 variables of patient/disease characteristics and surgical management were included in a proportional hazard model. RESULTS: Five parameters were associated independently with the risk for relaparotomy: increased risk coincided with young age at onset of disease, involvement of jejunum, enterocutaneous fistula, or performed strictureplasty, and decreased risk followed ileocecal resection. Site-specific risks of reoperation were calculated on the basis of 1260 intestinal resections or anastomoses performed in these patients. Young age at onset, duodenal and jejunal involvement, presence of enterocutaneous or perianal fistula, and a single surgeon (of 23) were associated significantly with increased risk of regional recurrence but not strictureplasty or inflammation at margins of resection. CONCLUSIONS: Limited surgery for Crohn's disease is not associated with increased risk of regional recurrence requiring reoperation. However, patients with juvenile onset, proximal small bowel disease, and some types of fistulae are at a considerable risk of experiencing early surgical recurrence.     

Strictureplasty of the small bowel in patients with Crohn's disease. An effective surgical option

Fibrotic strictures of the small bowel are known to cause chronic bowel obstruction in patients with Crohn's disease. Strictureplasty without resection permits relief of bowel obstruction and preservation of bowel length. The records of 13 patients who underwent 52 strictureplasties for Crohn's disease at the Lahey Clinic Medical Center, Burlington, Mass, from 1982 through 1989 were reviewed to determine the results of this surgical intervention. Nine patients were treated with strictureplasty only, while the remaining 4 patients underwent concomitant small-bowel resection for stenosed areas not amendable to strictureplasty. One early complication occurred in a patient in whom a pelvic abscess developed. In a median follow-up period of 2 years (range, 0.5 to 7 years), 9 patients were rehospitalized because of obstruction from Crohn's enteritis. Four patients required further surgery, 3 patients underwent strictureplasty at a newly stenosed area of small bowel, and 1 patient required resection of the initial strictureplasty. Strictureplasty is an effective surgical option for patients with Crohn's disease who have symptomatic small-bowel strictures.     

Long-term follow-up of strictureplasty for Crohn's disease

BACKGROUND: Strictureplasty is an effective means of alleviating obstructive Crohn's disease while conserving bowel length. The aim of this study was to establish long-term outcomes of strictureplasty. METHODS: Between 1978 and 2003, 479 strictureplasties were performed in 100 patients during 159 operations. Information on Crohn's disease, medical therapy, laboratory indices, surgical details, complication rates and outcomes was recorded. The primary endpoint was abdominal reoperation. RESULTS: Mean follow-up was 85.1 (range 0.2-240.9) months. The overall morbidity rate was 22.6 per cent, with septic complications in 11.3 per cent, obstruction in 4.4 per cent and gastrointestinal haemorrhage in 3.8 per cent. The 30-day mortality rate was 0.6 per cent and the procedure-related series mortality rate 3.0 per cent. Perioperative parenteral nutrition was the only marker for morbidity (P < 0.001). Reoperation rates were 52 per cent at a mean of 40.2 (range 0.2-205.8) months after a first, 56 per cent at 26.1 (range 3.5-63.5) months after a second, 86 per cent at 27.4 (range 1.4-74.5) months after a third, and 62.5 per cent at 25.9 (range 7.3-70.5) months following a fourth strictureplasty procedure. The major risk factor for reoperation was young age (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Long-term follow-up has confirmed the safety of strictureplasty in Crohn's disease. Morbidity is appreciable, although the surgical mortality rate is low. Reoperation rates are comparable following first and repeat strictureplasty procedures.     

Two surgical procedures for strictures at Finney strictureplasty for small bowel Crohn's disease

In patients with Crohn's disease, long small bowel strictures are sometimes treated by a Finney strictureplasty. Strictures at an entrance and exit of a previous Finney strictureplasty are associated with severe obstructive symptoms and sometimes blind loop syndrome. Those strictures are difficult to manage. We herein introduce two different surgical procedures: one is a continuous T-shaped strictureplasty and the other is anastomosis between the Finney pouch and the divided small bowel. Both procedures immediately relieved obstructive symptoms and required no major resection of the bowel. After a 2-year follow-up, there has been no recurrence at the previous Finney strictureplasty.     

New options in the surgical management of Crohn's disease

Conventional surgical treatment of Crohn's disease involves multiple or extensive resections or bypass procedures. These contribute to the morbidity and mortality of the disease. Minimal resection with appropriate "strictureplasty" is proposed as an alternative approach. Strictureplasty is analogous to pyloroplasty. The authors performed 15 strictureplasties in three patients, all of whom had previously undergone small-bowel resection for Crohn's disease. They presented with symptoms of chronic bowel obstruction resistant to medical therapy. There were two minor postoperative complications. Two patients were asymptomatic 20 months postoperatively; the third required reoperation for recurrent enterovesical fistula. The technique is safe. Its efficacy will be determined by long-term follow-up.     

Preoperative characteristics and postoperative behavior of bowel wall on risk of recurrence after conservative surgery in Crohn's disease: a prospective study

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate in patients with Crohn's disease, using transabdominal ultrasound, the morphologic characteristics of the diseased bowel wall before and after conservative surgery and to assess whether these characteristics and their behavior in the postoperative follow-up are useful and reliable prognostic factors of clinical and surgical recurrence. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: Ultrasound is effective for evaluating the thickness of bowel wall, the most typical and constant finding of Crohn's disease. No data are currently available concerning the behavior of the diseased intestinal wall after conservative surgery and whether the preoperative characteristics of bowel wall or its behavior after conservative surgery may predict recurrence. METHODS: In 85 consecutive patients treated with strictureplasty and miniresections for Crohn's disease, clinical and ultrasonographic evaluations were performed before and 6 months after surgery. Assessed before surgery were the maximum bowel wall thickness, the length of bowel wall thickening, the bowel wall echo pattern (homogeneous, stratified, and mixed), and the postoperative bowel wall behavior, classified as normalized, improved, unchanged, or worsened. RESULTS: A significant correlation was found between a long preoperative bowel wall thickening and surgical recurrence. Bowel wall thickness after surgery was unchanged or worsened in 43.3% of patients; in these patients, there was a high frequency of previous surgery. Patients with unchanged or worsened bowel wall thickness had a higher risk of clinical and surgical recurrence compared with those with normalized or improved bowel wall thickness. CONCLUSION: With the use of abdominal ultrasound, the authors found that the thickening of diseased bowel wall may unexpectedly improve after conservative surgery, and this is associated with a favorable outcome in terms of clinical and surgical recurrence. In addition to its diagnostic usefulness, ultrasound also provides reliable prognostic information concerning clinical and surgical recurrence in patients with Crohn's disease in the postoperative follow-up.     

Quality of life after surgical therapy of small bowel stenosis in Crohn's disease

BACKGROUND: Improvement in quality of life is one of the important determinants in the treatment of Crohn's disease. Since there is no cure with radical resection of inflamed bowel, strictureplasty has become a useful surgical technique in the treatment of small bowel obstruction. The scope of this study was to define the results of strictureplasty and resection in terms of quality of life, surgical recurrence and postoperative complications. METHODS: The charts of 67 patients with Crohn's disease of the small bowel were analyzed retrospectively. Patients were treated either by strictureplasty (group A) or resection (group B). Quality of life was evaluated in follow-up examinations using the Inflammatory Bowel Disease Questionnaire (IBDQ). RESULTS: Postoperative morbidity was 14.8% after strictureplasty and 17% after resection (p = 0.8). 50% of the patients treated by strictureplasty and 37% treated by resection developed recurrent disease (p = 0.40). Quality-of-life measurement revealed no significant difference between patients treated by strictureplasty or resection. CONCLUSION: Results after strictureplasty are comparable to those after resection in terms of complications, recurrence and quality of life in the treatment of small bowel strictures in Crohn's disease. In the long run there might be an advantage for strictureplasty because it prevents complications caused by resectional therapy such as short bowel syndrome.     

Patterns and operative treatment of recurrent Crohn's disease: a prospective longitudinal study

BACKGROUND: It is believed commonly that Crohn's recurrences always occur at the site of a previous intestinal anastomosis; yet this concept is probably inaccurate and not mindful of the panintestinal nature of the disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between October, 1984 and March, 2003, we carried out 1,132 procedures (464 for primary and 668 for recurrent disease) on 981 consecutive patients. Patients in whom we carried out both the original procedure as well as the procedure for recurrent disease constitute this study population. Operative procedures for perineal complications were excluded from this analysis. Data were accrued prospectively. RESULTS: Seventy-eight patients met the study inclusion criteria. They had a total of 149 sites of disease (duodenum, n = 3; jejunum/ileum, n = 53; terminal ileum/neo terminal ileum, n = 67; colon and rectum, n = 26). One hundred thirty-four sites required operative intervention (85 resections and 49 strictureplasties) and 15 did not. Crohn's disease recurred in 79 sites after a mean of 48.4 months (range, 1-161 months, median, 41 months). Site of operative intervention and operative technique influenced patterns of recurrence: when an anastomosis or strictureplasty was constructed with small bowel, the majority of recurrences were limited to the anastomotic line (17/29, 59%); when it was constructed with small bowel and colon, the majority of recurrences extended to the proximal limb (29/35, 83%). The difference in recurrence pattern is significant (P < .01). In addition, fewer recurrences occurred at strictureplasty than resection sites (22/49, 45%, vs 57/85, 70%, respectively, P < .05). At the time of the second procedure, 40 additional recurrences were identified distant from the original operative site. Four of these represented progression of disease at the 15 sites that did not originally need operative intervention. Of 119 total recurrences, 115 required 73 resections, 40 strictureplasties, and 2 other procedures. CONCLUSIONS: The site of the original operative intervention is the most common site for recurrence, although as many as one-third of recurrences occur separate from it. Pattern of recurrence is influenced by site of the operative intervention (anastomotic for small bowel, proximal limb for ileocolonic) and by operative technique (fewer recurrences occurred at strictureplasty than resection sites). Disease progression occurred in 25% of the sites not addressed operatively at the original procedure. The operative strategy applied to Crohn's complications in different intestinal sites was similar for primary and recurrent disease.     

Long-term results of strictureplasty for ileocolonic anastomotic recurrence in Crohn’s Disease

This study examined the outcome of strictureplasty for recurrence at the ileocolonic anastomosis after resection (ileocolonic strictureplasty) in Crohn’s disease. The records of 42 patients who underwent ileocolonic strictureplasty between 1980 and 1997 were reviewed. The method of ileocolonic strictureplasty was Heineke-Mikulicz reconstruction for a short stricture (<-6 cm) in 41 patients and Finney reconstruction for a long stricture (20 cm) in one. Synchronous operations were performed for coexisting small bowel Crohn’s disease in 17 patients: strictureplasty in eight, resection in two, and both in seven. Postoperatively there were two intra-abdominal abscesses, which were treated conservatively. There were no deaths. All except two patients had complete relief of symptoms after operation. Most of the patients who had preoperative weight loss gained weight (median gain +2.6 kg). After a median follow-up of 99 months, 24 patients (57%) had a symptomatic recurrence. Three patients were successfully managed by medical treatment. The other 21 patients (50%) required surgery for recurrence (20 for recurrence at the previous ileocolonic strictureplasty site). At present, two patients are symptomatic and currently receiving corticosteroid therapy. All other patients have had no recurrent symptoms. None of the patients have developed short bowel syndrome or small bowel carcinoma. Strictureplasty is a safe and efficacious procedure for ileocolonic anastomotic recurrence in Crohn’s disease.     

Long strictureplasty is as safe and effective as short strictureplasty in small-bowel Crohn''s disease

BACKGROUND: For the past 20 years it has been shown that intestinal strictureplasty is safe and effective in the management of short strictureplasty. Long strictureplasty (> 20 cm) may be an alternative to resection in some patients, especially in diffuse disease or after previous extensive resections. We reviewed the outcome of long strictureplasty for Crohn's Disease, to examine safety and recurrence rates, compared with conventional short strictureplasty. METHODS: Sixty-two patients have undergone single strictureplasty for jejunoileal Crohn's disease since 1974. Median follow-up was 121 (range 7-253) months. Twenty-one operations involved a single long strictureplasty, and 41 operations had a single short strictureplasty. RESULTS: No significant differences were identified between the groups. The postoperative complications in long strictureplasty included 2 abscesses only and after short strictureplasty there was one anastomotic leak and one postoperative abscess. The median hospital stay was 10 days after long strictureplasty and 9 days after short strictureplasty. Three-, 5- and 10-year disease-free rates for long and short strictureplasty, respectively, were 3-year 80.4% and 62.1%; 5-year 55.2% and 49.8% and 10-year 49.1% and 33.5% (NS). CONCLUSIONS: These data indicate that long strictureplasty is safe and produces equivalent results to conventional (short) strictureplasty.     

Safety and longterm efficacy of strictureplasty in 314 patients with obstructing small bowel Crohn's disease

BACKGROUND: Since its introduction in the early 1980s, strictureplasty (SXP) has become a viable option in the surgical management of obstructing small bowel Crohn's disease. Questions still remain regarding its safety and longterm durability in comparison to resection. Precise indications and contraindications to the procedure are also not well defined. STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective review of all patients undergoing SXP for obstructing small bowel Crohn's disease at the Cleveland Clinic between 1984 and 1999 was conducted. A total of 314 patients underwent a laparotomy that included the index SXP The total number of SXPs performed was 1,124, with a median of two (range 1 to 19) per patient. Sixty-six percent of patients underwent a synchronous bowel resection. Recurrence was defined as the need for reoperation. Followup information was determined by personal interviews, phone interviews, or both. RESULTS: The overall morbidity rate was 18%, with septic complications occurring in 5% of patients. Preoperative weight loss (p = 0.004) and older age (p = 0.008) were found to be significant predictors of morbidity. The surgical recurrence rate was 34%, with a median followup period of 7.5 years (range 1 to 16 years). Age was found to be a significant predictor of recurrence (p = 0.02), with younger patients having a shorter time to reoperation. CONCLUSIONS: This large series of patients with longterm followup confirms the safety and efficacy of strictureplasty in patients with obstructing small bowel Crohn's disease. The 18% morbidity and 34% operative recurrence rates compare favorably with reported results of resective surgery. Caution should be used in patients with preoperative weight loss, because they experienced higher complication rates. Although young patients seem to follow an accelerated course, SXP remains indicated as part of an overall strategy to conserve intestinal length.     

Strictureplasty vs resection in small bowel Crohn''s disease: an evaluation of short-term outcomes and recurrence

AIM: To compare postoperative adverse events and recurrence following strictureplasty or bowel resection in patients with small bowel Crohn's disease (CD). METHOD: A literature search was performed to identify studies published between 1980 and 2006 comparing outcomes of CD patients undergoing either strictureplasty or bowel resection. Hazard ratios were calculated from Kaplan-Meier plots of cumulative recurrence data. Quality assessment of the included studies was performed. Random-effect meta-analytical techniques were employed. Sensitivity analysis and assessment of heterogeneity were performed. RESULTS: Seven studies comprising 688 CD patients (strictureplasty n = 311, 45%; resection with or without strictureplasty n = 377, 55%) were included. Patients undergoing strictureplasty alone had a lower risk of developing postoperative complications than those who underwent resection (OR = 0.60, 95% CI: 0.31-1.16) although this was not statistically significant (P = 0.13). Surgical recurrence after strictureplasty was more likely than after resection (OR = 1.36, 95% CI: 0.96-1.93, P = 0.09). Patients who had a resection had a significantly longer recurrence-free survival than those undergoing strictureplasty alone (HR = 1.08, 95% CI: 1.02-1.15, P = 0.01). CONCLUSION: Patients with small bowel CD undergoing strictureplasty alone may have fewer postoperative complications than those undergoing a concomitant bowel resection. However, surgical recurrence maybe higher following strictureplasty alone than with a concomitant small bowel resection. Patients may require appropriate preoperative counselling regarding the pros and cons of each operative technique.     

Side-to-side isoperistaltic strictureplasty in the treatment of extensive Crohn's disease

BACKGROUND: First performed in 1992, the side-to-side isoperistaltic strictureplasty (SSIS) is a bowel-sparing surgical option for Crohn's patients presenting with sequentially occurring stenoses over long intestinal segments (>15 cm). This investigation was designed to study the outcomes and patterns of recurrence after a SSIS. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between 1992 and 2003, 30 patients underwent SSIS at the University of Chicago. Their data were gathered prospectively in an Institutional Review Board-approved database. RESULTS: A total of 31 SSISs were constructed in 30 patients. As an indication of the severity of disease in these patients, 25 of 30 (83%) required a concomitant bowel resection, and 13 (43%) underwent at least one additional strictureplasty. The average length of diseased bowel used to construct the SSIS was 51 cm. The average length of residual small bowel after performance of SSIS was 275 cm, and the SSIS represented an average 19% of the remaining small bowel that would have otherwise been sacrificed with resection. Three patients experienced perioperative complications (10%) and one died (3%). Seven patients (23%) required reoperation to treat recurrence of symptoms within the first 5 years. In four of these patients, recurrence was found at or near the previous SSIS. CONCLUSIONS: A side-to-side isoperistaltic strictureplasty (SSIS) is a safe and effective surgical option for sequentially occurring Crohn's strictures over long intestinal segments.     

Robotically assisted small intestinal strictureplasty in dogs

BACKGROUND: Robotically assisted surgery offers the advantages of improved dexterity and elimination of tremor over conventional laparoscopic surgery. There have been few studies to date, however, examining the role of robotics in intestinal surgery. This study was undertaken to determine the feasibility and safety of using a robotic surgical system in the performance of intracorporeal small bowel strictureplasties in dogs. METHODS: Using a robotic surgical system, a total of 16 strictureplasties were performed in the small bowel of eight dogs (two strictureplasties per dog). Using only intracorporeal robotic surgery, a 2.5 cm enterotomy was made longitudinally in the small bowel, and then closed in a Heineke-Mikulicz configuration with a one-layer running 3-0 braided absorbable suture (strictureplasty). All animals were allowed to survive for 7 days with prospective monitoring of bowel movements, level of activity, oral intake, and abdominal examination. After 7 days, necropsy was performed, examining all strictureplasty sites for signs of sepsis. The endpoints of the study were recovery of normal intestinal function (bowel movements), intraoperative and postoperative complications, and the appearance of the anastomoses at necropsy. RESULTS: There was no intraoperative morbidity or mortality. All eight dogs survived 7 days and recovered well. All dogs had a bowel movement on the first postoperative day, and appeared healthy throughout the study period. Necropsy revealed that all 16 strictureplasty sites were healing without signs of sepsis. The median time per strictureplasty was 65 min (range, 45-110 min). One dog developed a superficial wound infection at a trocar site. CONCLUSIONS: A robotic surgical system can successfully be employed in the performance of intestinal strictureplasties in dogs. This study supports further investigation into the role of robotics in intestinal surgery in humans.