INTRAABDOMINAL AND PELVIC ABSCESS IN CROHNS-DISEASE - RESULTS OF NONINVASIVE AND SURGICAL-MANAGEMENT

Background Intra-abdominal and pelvic abscesses occur in 10-30 per cen t of patients with Crohn's disease. The aim of this study was to estab lish the clinical characteristics and outcome of patients admitted ove r a 4-year period with an abdominal or pelvic abscess secondary to Cro hn's disease. Methods Patients with Crohn's disease-related intra-abdo minal or pelvic abscess were identified from a prospectively collected database, comprising all admissions between 1991 and 1994. Medical re cords were reviewed retrospectively and data gathered regarding manage ment and outcome. Results Thirty-six patients were identified with Cro hn's disease-related abscess, of whom 15 were considered for initial p ercutaneous drainage. Drainage was technically possible in eight of th ese patients: it failed in four, gave good long-term results in two, a nd was followed by recurrence after 3 years in one and by later surger y unrelated to the abscess in one. Twenty-eight patients underwent sur gery, with only four requiring a stoma. Complications occurred in 12 p atients. At 3 months, 22 of the 36 patients were in remission. Conclus ion Crohn's intra-abdominal abscesses are associated with a high morbi dity rate. Selected cases can be drained percutaneously, without addin g to the morbidity, and sometimes resulting in abscess resolution.