Treatment of esophageal Crohn's disease by enteral feeding via percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy

Background: Crohn's disease of the esophagus is rare, and medical treatment often ineffective. Complications such as abscess and fistula may arise, an d the morbidity of surgery is high. Methods: Two cases of refractory esopha geal Crohn's disease were confirmed by endoscopy and biopsy. Percutaneous e ndoscopic gastrostomies (PEGs) were inserted and used for enteral nutrition for 9 and 1 month. respectively. Results: The PEGs were well tolerated. Sy mptoms subsided rapidly, and later gastroscopies confirmed healing of the e sophageal ulcers. No complications occurred, and the gastrostomy sites clos ed quickly after removal of the tubes, with minimal scarring. Conclusions: Enteral feeding via PEG appears to be safe and well tolerated and may be of great value in the management not only of esophageal Crohn's disease but a lso of refractory disease at other sites.