SURGICAL THERAPY FOR CROHNS-DISEASE

Recurrence of disease after restorative operation for Crohn's disease is the rule rather than the exception. In fact, studies using colonosc opic surveillance show that minute recurrent lesions appear in the maj ority of patients within 1 year after operation. Radical extirpation o f disease does not reduce the rate of recurrence but only predisposes to the development of short bowel syndrome. Nevertheless, 70% or more of patients require one or more operations during their course. This c onundrum is managed by using conservative indications for operation an d by bowel-conserving procedures.