The surgical options and management of intestinal Crohn's disease

Outcomes after fecal diversion for colonic and perianal Crohn disease in children

BACKGROUND

Temporary fecal diversion by means of an ileostomy or colostomy has been used in the surgical management of refractory colonic and perianal Crohn disease (CD). The aims of our study were to evaluate the outcomes after fecal diversion in pediatric patients with colonic and perianal CD.

METHODS

The records of patients who underwent fecal diversion for colonic and perianal CD at Children's Hospital of Wisconsin between July 2000 and June 2014 were reviewed retrospectively. Patient demographics, medication use, onset and extent of disease, response to fecal diversion, rate of stoma reversal and relapse rate after stoma reversal were recorded.

RESULTS

We identified 28 consecutive patients (20 females, 8 males; median age 13.9years) undergoing fecal diversion for refractory colonic (n=21) and perianal CD (n=7). Median duration of follow-up after fecal diversion was 2.26years (range, 0.79-10.2years). The response to fecal diversion was sustained clinical remission in 13/28 (46%), temporary clinical remission in 10/28 (36%), no change in 5/28 (18%). Intestinal continuity was restored in 14/28 (50%) patients; however, 3 (21%) required permanent stoma after reconnection. Classification tree analysis identified that female patients without perianal CD had higher rates of stoma reversal (p=0.008).

CONCLUSIONS

Fecal diversion can induce remission in pediatric patients with refractory colonic and perianal CD. Restoration of intestinal continuity was achieved in about 39%. Female patients without perianal CD carried no risk of a permanent stoma.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level III study.

Surgery and postoperative recurrence in children with Crohn disease

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to describe surgery rates, complications, and risk of disease recurrence after surgery in paediatric Crohn disease (CD).

METHODS

Children <18 years with a diagnosis of CD and a least 1 intestinal resection from the period January 1, 1978 to December 31, 2007 were identified using the Danish National Patient Registry. Patient charts were used to extract data.

RESULTS

A total of 115 of 422 children with CD, who had surgery in 2 referral centres, were further studied. Disease extension according to the Montreal classification at the time of operation was available in 106/115 patients: B1, 39/106 (37%); B2, 59/106 (56%); and B3, 8/106 (7%). Before/after surgery 89%/36% of the patients received corticosteroids, 26%/61% azathioprine, and 15%/34% infliximab. Ileocoecal resection was performed in 54 (47%); 17 (15%) underwent ileal resection, 21 (18%) colectomy, 13 (11%) hemicolectomy, and 10 (9%) a combined colonic and ileal resection. Median time from diagnosis to surgery was 23 months (range 0-147). The median follow-up time after surgery was 121 months (16-226), and median time to disease recurrence was 12 months (3-160). The cumulative clinical recurrence rates at 1, 5, and 10 years were 50%, 73%, and 77%, respectively. More than 1 bowel resection was needed in 39%. Postoperative azathioprine treatment did not affect rate of recurrence after surgery.

CONCLUSIONS

In this large cohort of children with CD studied for >10 years postoperatively, we found a high postoperative recurrence rate of disease and a frequent need for >1 intestinal resection.