An audit of gastroduodenal Crohn disease: clinicopathologic features and management

Optimal surgical management of duodenal fistula in Crohn's disease: a Korean multicenter cohort study

PURPOSE

Duodenal fistula in Crohn's disease (CDF) is a rare condition with an unclear optimal surgical management approach. We reviewed a Korean multicenter cohort of CDF surgery cases and assessed their perioperative outcomes to evaluate the effectiveness of the surgical interventions.

METHODS

The medical records of patients who underwent CD surgery between January 2006 and December 2021 from three tertiary medical centers were retrospectively reviewed. Only CDF cases were included in this study. The demographic and preoperative characteristics, perioperative details, and postoperative outcomes were analyzed.

RESULTS

Among the initial population of 2149 patients who underwent surgery for CD, 23 cases (1.1%) had a CDF operation. Fourteen of these patients (60.9%) had a history of previous abdominal surgery, and 7 had duodenal fistula at the previous anastomosis site. All duodenal fistulas were excised and primarily repaired via a resection of the originating adjacent bowel. Additional procedures such as gastrojejunostomy, pyloric exclusion, or T-tube insertion were performed in 8 patients (34.8%). Eleven patients (47.8%) experienced postoperative complications including for anastomosis leakages. Fistula recurrence was noted in 3 patients (13%) of which one patient required a re-operation. Biologics administration was associated with fewer adverse events by multivariable analysis (P = 0.026, odds ratio = 0.081).

CONCLUSION

Optimal perioperative conditioning of patients receiving a primary repair of a fistula and resection of the original diseased bowel can successfully cure CDF. Along with primary repair of the duodenum, other complementary additional procedures should be considered for better postoperative outcomes.

Upper gastrointestinal tract involvement of Crohn disease: clinical implications in children and adolescents

Crohn disease (CD) is a multifactorial inflammatory disorder that can affect all segments of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract but typically involves the ileum and/or colon. To assess patient prognosis and choose appropriate treatment, it is necessary to accurately evaluate the factors influencing poor outcomes, including disease phenotype. Pediatric CD involving the upper GI (UGI) tract has become increasingly recognized with the introduction of routine upper endoscopy with biopsies for all patients and the increased availability of accurate small bowel evaluations. Most clinical manifestations are mild and nonspecific; however, UGI involvement should not be overlooked since it can cause serious complications. Although controversy persists about the definition of upper GI involvement, aphthoid ulcers, longitudinal ulcers, a bamboo jointlike appearance, stenosis, and fistula are endoscopic findings suggestive of CD. In addition, the primary histological findings, such as focally enhanced gastritis and noncaseating granulomas, are highly suggestive of CD. The association between UGI involvement and poor prognosis of CD remains controversial. However, the unstandardized definition and absence of a validated tool for evaluating disease severity complicate the objective assessment of UGI involvement in CD. Therefore, more prospective studies are needed to provide further insight into the standardized assessment of UGI involvement and longterm prognosis of CD. Our review summarizes the findings to date in the literature as well as UGI involvement in CD and its clinical implications.

Long-term outcome of Crohn's disease patients with upper gastrointestinal stricture: A GETAID study

BACKGROUND

There are few data concerning patients with Crohn's disease (CD) complicated by a stricture of the upper gastrointestinal tract (UGT).

AIMS

We evaluated the outcome and management of CD patients complicated by a stricture of the UGT.

METHODS

We performed a retrospective multicenter study including all CD patients with a non-passable symptomatic UGT stricture on endoscopy. Primary outcome measure was surgery-free survival from diagnosis of stricture. Efficacy of medical, endoscopic, and surgical treatments, and identification of predictors of surgery were also evaluated.

RESULTS

60 CD patients with an UGT stricture were included. 60% of the strictures were located in the duodenum. With a median follow-up of 5.5 (IQR: 3.0-12.0) years since stricture diagnosis, surgical-free survival was 75% and 64% at 1 and 5 years, respectively. At the end of the follow up, 27 (45%) patients underwent surgery. 77 endoscopic procedures were performed in 30 patients with an immediate success of 81% and a clinical benefit in 84% of the procedures. In multivariate analysis, anti-TNF treatment initiation was associated with a reduced risk of surgery.

CONCLUSION

CD UGT strictures are mainly located in the duodenum. Medical and endoscopic treatments allow to avoid surgery in half of the patients.

Efficacy of Endoscopic Dilation of Gastroduodenal Crohn's Disease Strictures: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Individual Patient Data

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Little is known about the effects of endoscopic balloon dilation (EBD) for strictures of the upper gastrointestinal (UGI) tract in patients with Crohn's disease (CD). We performed a pooled analysis of the efficacy and safety of EBD for UGI CD-associated strictures.

METHODS

We searched Embase, Medline, and the Cochrane library, as well as bibliographies of relevant articles, for cohort studies of adults with CD and strictures of the stomach or duodenum (up to the ligament of Treitz) who underwent EBD through December 2016. We obtained data from 7 international referral centers on 94 patients who underwent 141 EBDs. We performed a patient-level meta-analysis of data from published and unpublished cohort studies to determine mechanical and clinical success. We performed a time-to-event analysis to assess symptom recurrence and need for redilation or surgery. The patients analyzed had strictures of the duodenum (n = 107), stomach (n = 30), or spanning both (n = 4).

RESULTS

The rate of technical success for EBD was 100%, with 87% short-term clinical efficacy; major complications arose from 2.9% of all procedures. During a median follow-up period of 23.1 months, 70.5% of patients had a recurrence of symptoms, 59.6% required redilation, and 30.8% required surgical intervention. Patients whose disease was located in the small bowel had a higher risk for symptom recurrence (hazard ratio [HR], 2.1; P = .003). Asian race (HR, 2.8; P < .001) and location of disease in the small bowel (HR, 1.9; P = .004) increased the need for redilation. Prestenotic dilation was a risk factor for needing surgery earlier (HR, 1.9; P = .001).

CONCLUSIONS

In a meta-analysis, we found EBD for CD-associated strictures of the UGI to be an effective alternative to surgery, with a high rate of short-term technical and clinical success, moderate long-term efficacy, and an acceptable rate of complications.

Incidence of Paediatric Stricturing Duodenal Crohn Disease: A 19-Year Population-based Cohort Study

OBJECTIVES

Stricturing duodenal Crohn disease (CD) is a rare but serious presentation of CD causing significant morbidity. We aim to provide the first robust incidence data and case studies on this severe presentation in children.

METHODS

A regional cohort of prospectively acquired incident cases of paediatric CD diagnosed <16 years of age in South-East Scotland was captured over a 19-year period (1999-2018). A retrospective review was conducted on the medical records of all patients together with a review of the available literature and consensus guidelines. Incidence rates for all CD and for duodenal stricturing CD were calculated.

RESULTS

A total of 247 new cases of paediatric CD were diagnosed within the study period. Median age at diagnosis was 12.5 years with 62% male predominance. Overall paediatric CD incidence rate was 5.70/100,000/year with a specific duodenal B2 phenotype disease incidence rate of 0.05/100,000/year; representing 0.8% of incident cases at diagnosis. Two incident cases of stricturing duodenal CD presented with systemic symptoms of weight loss, abdominal pain, anorexia, and lethargy, together with persistent vomiting suggestive of obstruction. Both cases partially responded to intensive medical therapy but eventually required laparoscopic gastroduodenostomy. A detailed literature search confirmed there are no paediatric incidence data, guidelines, or case reports relating to duodenal stricture as either a presentation or complication of CD.

CONCLUSIONS

Duodenal structuring disease is a rare but serious presentation of CD causing significant morbidity and not currently covered in the paediatric literature or consensus guidelines. Best practice medical and surgical management remain uncertain and require further research.

Strictureplasty in Complex Crohn's Disease: Beyond the Basics

The strictureplasty operation was originally adopted for use in selected patients with Crohn's disease to allow for bowel conservation. The procedure and its usage have evolved over time as experience and confidence with the technique has grown. The short- and long-term outcomes of strictureplasty compared with resection attest to its safety and durable efficacy.

Crohn’s disease of esophagus, stomach and duodenum

Crohn’s disease with involvement of the esophagus, stomach and duodenum has a prevalence of 0.5% to 4% in symptomatic adult patients, but some studies have shown that these results may be underestimated, since upper gastrointestinal endoscopy is not performed routinely in the initial evaluation of the disease in adult patients, as it is in the pediatric population. In general, involvement of the upper gastrointestinal tract in Crohn’s disease occurs concomitantly with involvement of the lower gastrointestinal tract. The diagnosis depends on clinical, endoscopic, histological and radiological evaluation. The presence of aphthoid ulcers, longitudinal ulcers, bamboo-joint-like appearance, stenoses and fistulas are endoscopic findings suggestive of the disease, and it is important to exclude the presence of Helicobacter pylori infection. The primary histological findings, which facilitate the diagnosis, are the presence of a chronic inflammatory process with a predominance of lymphoplasmacytic cells and active focal gastritis. The presence of epithelioid granuloma, although less frequent, is highly suggestive of the disease in the absence of chronic granulomatous disease. Treatment should include the use of proton pump inhibitors associated with corticosteroids, immunomodulators and biological therapy according to the severity of the disease.

Duodenal Crohn's Disease

Symptomatic duodenal Crohn's disease (CD) is an uncommon disease presentation, especially in isolation. The most common duodenal disease phenotype is stricturing disease rather than inflammatory or perforating. Most patients are asymptomatic and are therefore diagnosed incidentally by cross-sectional imaging or endoscopy. Medical management includes proton pump inhibitor therapy and immunosuppressive therapy including corticosteroids, immunomodulatory therapy, and biologic therapy. Symptomatic strictures can often be treated medically or endoscopically, and do not always require surgery. Surgical options include resection with primary anastomosis, bypass with a gastrojejunostomy, and strictureplasty. Treatment recommendations are largely based on limited evidence from small series and expert opinion. Therefore, the optimal treatment algorithm remains largely subjective and undefined.

Outcomes 7 Years After Infliximab Withdrawal for Patients With Crohn's Disease in Sustained Remission

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Little is known about long-term outcomes of patients with Crohn's disease (CD) after infliximab withdrawal. We aimed to describe the long-term outcomes of patients with CD in clinical remission after infliximab treatment was withdrawn.

METHODS

We performed a retrospective analysis of data from the 115 patients included in the infliximab discontinuation in patients with CD in stable remission on combined therapy with antimetabolites (STORI) study, performed at 20 centers in France and Belgium from March 2006 through December 2009. The STORI cohort was a prospective analysis of risk and factors associated with relapse following withdrawal of maintenance therapy with infliximab, maintained on antimetabolites, while in clinical remission. We collected data from the end of the study until the last available follow-up examination on patient surgeries, new complex perianal lesions (indicating major complications), and need for and outcomes of restarting therapy with infliximab or another biologic agent. The de-escalation strategy was considered to have failed when a major complication or infliximab restart failure occurred.

RESULTS

Of the 115 patients initially included, data from 102 patients (from 19 of the 20 study centers) were included in the final analysis. The median follow-up time was 7 years. Twenty-one percent of the patients did not restart treatment with infliximab or another biologic agent and did not have a major complication 7 years after infliximab withdrawal (95% CI, 13.1-30.3). Among patients who restarted infliximab, treatment failed for 30.1% 6 years after restarting (95% CI, 18.5-42.5). Overall, at 7 years after stopping infliximab therapy, major complications occurred in 18.5% of patients (95% CI, 10.2-26.8) whereas 70.2% of patients had no failure of the de-escalation strategy (95% CI, 60.2-80.1). Factors independently associated with major complications were upper-gastrointestinal location of disease, white blood cell count ≥ 5.0 × 10⁹/L, and hemoglobin level ≤12.5 g/dL at the time of infliximab withdrawal. Patients with at least 2 of these factors had a more than 40% risk of major complication in the 7 years following infliximab withdrawal.

CONCLUSIONS

In a long-term follow-up of the STORI cohort (7 years) one fifth of the patients did not restart infliximab or another biologic agent and did not develop major complications. Seventy percent of patients had no failure of the de-escalation strategy (no major complication and no failure of infliximab restart).

Oral and upper gastrointestinal Crohn's disease

Crohn's disease is a heterogeneous, inflammatory condition that can affect any location of the gastrointestinal tract. Proximal gastrointestinal involvement occurs in 0.5-16% of patients, and it is usually diagnosed after recognition of intestinal disease. Symptoms are often mild and nonspecific; however, upper gastrointestinal disease predicts a more severe Crohn's phenotype with a greater frequency of complications such as obstruction and perforation. Gastroscopy and biopsy is the most sensitive diagnostic investigation. There is a paucity of data examining the treatment of this condition. Management principles are similar to those for intestinal disease, commencing with topical therapy where appropriate, progressing to systemic therapy such as glucocorticoids, 5-aminosalicylic acid, immunomodulators, and biologics. Acid suppression therapy has symptomatic but no anti-inflammatory benefit for gastroduodenal and esophageal involvement. Surgical intervention with bypass, strictureplasty, or less frequently, endoscopic balloon dilation may be required for complications or failed medical therapy.

Crohn's disease confined to the duodenum: A case report

Crohn’s disease (CD) can involve any part of the gastrointestinal tract from the mouth to anus. However, gastroduodenal CD is rare with a frequency reported to range between 0.5% and 4.0%. Most patients with gastroduodenal CD have concomitant lesions in the terminal ileum or colon, but isolated gastroduodenal Crohn’s disease is an extremely rare presentation of the disease accounting for less than 0.07% of all patients with CD. The symptoms of gastroduodenal CD include epigastric pain, dyspepsia, early satiety, anorexia, nausea, vomiting, and weight loss. The diagnosis of gastroduodenal CD requires a high level of clinical suspicion and can be made by comprehensive clinical evaluation. Here we report a rare case of isolated duodenal CD not confirmed by identification of granuloma on biopsy, but diagnosed by clinical evaluation.

Crohn’s disease with gastroduodenal involvement: Diagnostic approach

Crohn’s disease (CD) is a chronic idiopathic inflammatory disease of gastrointestinal tract characterized by segmental and transmural involvement of gastrointestinal tract. Ileocolonic and colonic/anorectal is a most common and account for 40% of cases and involvement of small intestine is about 30%. Isolated involvement of stomach is an extremely unusual presentation of the disease accounting for less than 0.07% of all gastrointestinal CD. To date there are only a few documented case reports of adults with isolated gastric CD and no reports in the pediatric population. The diagnosis is difficult to establish in such cases with atypical presentation. In the absence of any other source of disease and in the presence of nonspecific upper gastrointestinal endoscopy and histological findings, serological testing can play a vital role in the diagnosis of atypical CD. Recent studies have suggested that perinuclear anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody and anti-Saccharomycescervisia antibody may be used as additional diagnostic tools. The effectiveness of infliximab in isolated gastric CD is limited to only a few case reports of adult patients and the long-term outcome is unknown.

Surgery for luminal Crohn’s disease

Many patients with Crohn’s disease (CD) require surgery. Indications for surgery include failure of medical treatment, bowel obstruction, fistula or abscess formation. The most common surgical procedure is resection. In jejunoileal CD, strictureplasty is an accepted surgical technique that relieves the obstructive symptoms, while preserving intestinal length and avoiding the development of short bowel syndrome. However, the role of strictureplasty in duodenal and colonic diseases remains controversial. In extensive colitis, after total colectomy with ileorectal anastomosis (IRA), the recurrence rates and functional outcomes are reasonable. For patients with extensive colitis and rectal involvement, total colectomy and end-ileostomy is safe and effective; however, a few patients can have subsequent IRA, and half of the patients will require proctectomy later. Proctocolectomy is associated with a high incidence of delayed perineal wound healing, but it carries a low recurrence rate. Patients undergoing proctocolectomy with ileal pouch-anal anastomosis had poor functional outcomes and high failure rates. Laparoscopic surgery has been introduced as a minimal invasive procedure. Patients who undergo laparoscopic surgery have a more rapid recovery of bowel function and a shorter hospital stay. The morbidity also is lower, and the rate of disease recurrence is similar compared with open procedures.

Isolated duodenal Crohn's disease: a case report and a review of the surgical management

Crohn's disease may affect any segment of the gastrointestinal tract; however, isolated duodenal involvement is rather rare. It still remains a complex clinical entity with a controversial management of the disease. Initially, patients with duodenal Crohn' s disease (DCD) are managed with a combination of antiacid and immunosuppressive therapy. However, medical treatment fails in the majority of DCD patients, and surgical intervention is required in case of complicated disease. Options for surgical management of complicated DCD include bypass, resection, or stricturoplasty procedures. In this paper, we reported a 33-year-old male patient, who was diagnosed with isolated duodenal Crohn's diseases, and reviewed the surgical options in the literature.

Aggressive Helicobacter pylori-negative peptic ulceration as the initial manifestation of Crohn's disease

Peptic ulceration is a recognised feature of Crohn's disease, but the characteristics of this manifestation are rather poorly described. Furthermore, most reports in the literature relate to ulcer disease in cases of established Crohn's disease. The authors report a series of four cases in which the diagnosis of Crohn's disease was preceded by peptic ulceration. Potential confounding factors were as far as possible excluded, implying a true association. Characteristics of the ulcer disease included (1) a multifocal distribution, (2) Helicobacter pylori negativity and (3) an unusually aggressive clinical course despite proton pump inhibitor therapy, necessitating endoscopic or surgical intervention in three cases. Crohn's-related peptic ulceration is a relatively common manifestation which may precede the diagnosis of Crohn's disease itself. Recognition of the underlying diagnosis may be hampered by non-specific histology, but is important in view of the aggressive course of the ulceration, which may respond to medical therapy for Crohn's disease.

Crohn's disease: a surgeon's perspective

Crohn's disease (CD) is known for wide anatomic distribution, different presentations, life-threatening complications, and multiple modalities of management. Its multiple implications are still unaddressed. Since all the patients do not show a good response to medical modalities of treatment, a significant percentage of these patients are referred to the surgeon for the palliation of complications or for the ultimate curative treatment. Since most surgeons come across such patients only rarely, it is sometimes difficult for them to choose the appropriate procedure at the time of need. Moreover, the various surgical modalities available for the different presentations and complications of the disease have not been adequately discussed. The aim of this review is to offer insight and a detailed account of the management of CD from a surgical perspective. This review offers an overview of the various surgical options available, their utility in context, and an approach to various scenarios of complicated CD.

Small intestine Crohn's disease presenting as fever mistaken for adult onset Still's disease

Crohn's disease (CD) is not rare in recent years, but it is sometimes difficult to make a definite diagnosis particularly if it is in the small intestine. We report a patient with fever for 8 months whose disease was mistaken to be Adult onset Still's disease. The patient was diagnosed small intestine Crohn's disease at last by pathology. We want to emphasize that doctors should not forget small intestine Crohn's disease when encountering an unidentified feverish patient, they should not diagnose a feverish patient of Adult onset Still's disease at once. It is important to note that corticosteroids can conceal many diseases and they should not be considered lightly even if the patient is diagnosed with Adult onset Still's disease.

Review article: Helicobacter pylori-negative duodenal ulcer disease

BACKGROUND

Helicobacter pylori infection rates in duodenal ulcer (DU) patients may be lower than previously estimated.

AIM

To review the real prevalence of H. pylori-negative DUs and its possible causes.

METHODS

Bibliographical searches in MEDLINE looking for the terms 'H. pylori' and 'duodenal ulcer'.

RESULTS

Mean prevalence of H. pylori infection in DU disease, calculated from studies published during the last 10 years including a total of 16 080 patients, was 81%, and this figure was lower (77%) when only the last 5 years were considered. Associations with H. pylori-negative DU were: (1) False negative results of diagnostic methods, (2) NSAID use (21% in studies with <90% infection rate), (3) Complicated DU (bleeding, obstruction, perforation), (4) Smoking, (5) Isolated H. pylori duodenal colonization, (6) Older age, (7) Gastric hypersecretion, (8) Diseases of the duodenal mucosa, (9) Helicobacter'heilmanii' infection and (10) Concomitant diseases.

CONCLUSION

In patients with H. pylori-negative DU disease, one should carefully confirm that the assessment of H. pylori status is reliable. In truly H. pylori-negative patients, the most common single cause of DU is, by far, the use of NSAIDs. Ulcers not associated with H. pylori, NSAIDs or other obvious causes should, for the present, be viewed as 'idiopathic'. True idiopathic DU disease only exceptionally exists.

Safety and efficacy of strictureplasty for Crohn's disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis

PURPOSE

This study was designed to review safety and efficacy of strictureplasty for Crohn's disease.

METHODS

A literature search was performed to identify studies published between 1975 and 2005 that reported the outcome of strictureplasty. Systematic review was performed on the following subjects separately: 1) overall experience of strictureplasty; 2) postoperative complications; 3) postoperative recurrence and site of recurrence; 4) factors affecting postoperative complications and recurrence; 5) short-bowel syndrome; and 6) cancer risk. Meta-analysis of recurrence rate after strictureplasty was performed by using random-effect model and meta-regressive techniques.

RESULTS

A total of 1,112 patients who underwent 3,259 strictureplasties (Heineke-Mikulicz, 81 percent; Finney, 10 percent; side-to-side isoperistaltic, 5 percent) were identified. The sites of strictureplasty were jejunum and/or ileum (94 percent), previous anastomosis (4 percent), duodenum (1 percent), and colon (1 percent). After jejunoileal strictureplasty, including ileocolonic strictureplasty, septic complications (leak/fistula/abscess) occurred in 4 percent of patients. Overall surgical recurrence was 23 percent (95 percent confidence interval, 17-30 percent). Using meta-regressive analysis, the five-year recurrence rate after strictureplasty was 28 percent. In 90 percent of patients, recurrence occurred at nonstrictureplasty sites, and the site-specific recurrence rate was 3 percent. Two patients developed adenocarcinoma at the site of previous jejunoileal strictureplasty. The experience of duodenal or colonic strictureplasty was limited.

CONCLUSIONS

Strictureplasty is a safe and effective procedure for jejunoileal Crohn's disease, including ileocolonic recurrence, and it has the advantage of protecting against further small bowel loss. However, the place for strictureplasty is less well defined in duodenal and colonic diseases.

Pathophysiology of inflammatory bowel disease: an overview

Inflammatory bowel disease, Crohn's disease, and ulcerative colitis are considered idiopathic diseases affecting the gastrointestinal tract. These two diseases are often considered together because of multiple similarities, including gastrointestinal inflammation, waxing and waning severity and symptoms, and unknown etiology. However, they have separate symptoms and microscopic characteristics as well as patterns within the gastrointestinal tract.

The patient with recurrent (sub) obstruction due to Crohn's disease

Stricturing Crohn's disease (CD) occurs in 12-54% of the CD patient population and is associated with significant morbidity and impaired quality of life. The detailed pathophysiology of stricture formation has not been fully elucidated, but is primarily associated with luminal narrowing secondary to inflammation and the fibrosis that ensues during mucosal healing. The diagnosis of stricturing disease is based on clinical signs and symptoms along with imaging modalities. The advantages and shortcomings of each imaging modality are discussed. Treatment options are based on the differentiation between inflammatory versus fibrous-predominant strictures; whereas the former can potentially be managed with conservative medical treatment, the latter necessitates a mechanical solution through endoscopy or surgery. Indications, contra-indications and success rates of the different therapeutic approaches are discussed.

The role of psychosocial factors in peptic ulcer disease: beyond Helicobacter pylori and NSAIDs

A variety of organic etiologies are associated with peptic ulcer disease, and the most relevant of these are infection with Helicobacter pylori and use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Between 5% and 20% of patients with gastric or duodenal ulcer, however, lack an identifiable organic etiology. In these patients particularly and in all ulcer patients in general, psychosocial factors may play a significant role. At present, there is no definitive study proving a causal relationship between psychological stress and the development of ulcer disease. Studies to date suffer from significant methodological limitations and have not effectively addressed the poor correlation between ulcer craters and ulcer symptoms. A conservative application of available data would suggest that psychosocial factors play a significant role in symptom perception and reporting in patients with dyspeptic symptoms and may play a role in ulcer formation.

Acute duodenal Crohn’s disease successfully managed with low-speed elemental diet infusion via nasogastric tube: A case report

Duodenal Crohn’s disease is rare, and patients without obstruction are treated medically. We herein report one case whose duodenal Crohn’s disease was successfully managed with low-speed elemental diet infusion through a nasogastric tube. A 28-year-old female developed acute duodenal Crohn’s disease. Upper GI radiologic and endoscopic examinations showed a stricture in the duodenal bulb. Using the duodenal biopsy specimens, mucosal cytokine levels were measured; interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, IL-8, and tumor necrosis factor-α levels were remarkably elevated. For initial 2 wk, powdered mesalazine was orally given but it was not effective. For the next 2 wk, she was treated with low-speed elemental diet therapy using a commercially available Elental^TM, which was infused continuously through a nasogastric tube using an infusion pump. The tip of the nasogastric tube was placed at an immediate oral side of the pylorus. The infusion speed was 10 mL/h (usual speed, 100 mL/h). After the 2-wk treatment, her symptoms were very much improved, and endoscopically, the duodenal stricture and inflammation improved. The duodenal mucosal cytokine levels remarkably decreased compared with those before the treatment. Although our experience was limited, low-speed elemental diet infusion through a nasogastric tube may be a useful treatment for acute duodenal Crohn’s disease.

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.

Therapeutic options in the management of strictures in Crohn's disease

Intestinal strictures are a commonly encountered problem in patients with Crohn's disease. Endoscopic management with hydrostatic balloon dilation is an effective alternative to surgery in patients with endoscopically accessible lesions that are shorter than 7-8 cm. Endoscopic balloon dilation is the preferred initial modality in anastomotic strictures. The presence of inflammation near the stricture should not be considered a contraindication to dilation, and intralesional steroid injection should be considered in these patients with inflammation present in the area of the stricture. Further technological developments in endoscopes and balloon dilators may allow for broader application of these techniques.

Current indications for acid suppressants in Helicobacter pylori -negative ulcer disease

Although Helicobacter pylori infection remains the single most common cause of peptic ulcer, an increasing proportion of patients have H. pylori -negative ulcers. The proportion is higher in the USA--and possibly Australia--than elsewhere. Although the precise aetiology of these ulcers is often unknown, some are caused by the use of aspirin or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. In areas with a high prevalence of H. pylori -negative ulcers, the empirical treatment of H. pylori infection for newly diagnosed peptic ulcer disease should be discouraged. All such patients should have documentation of their H. pylori status before treatment. Patients with H. pylori -negative ulcers may have the more serious ulcer diathesis and are likely to require long-term management with acid-suppressing drugs. Proton pump inhibitors are likely to be the drugs of choice; patients may be relatively refractory to H(2)-receptor antagonists. The optimal duration of treatment is undefined but might be lifelong. There are no prospective studies of the efficacy of surgery or mucosal-protective agents in the treatment of H. pylori -negative ulcers.

Long-term outcome of surgical management for diffuse jejunoileal Crohn's disease

BACKGROUND

In diffuse jejunoileal Crohn's disease, resectional surgery may lead to short-bowel syndrome. Since 1980 strictureplasty has been used for jejunoileal strictures. This study reviews the long-term outcome of surgical treatment for diffuse jejunoileal Crohn's disease.

METHODS

The cases of 46 patients who required surgery for diffuse jejunoileal Crohn's disease between 1980 and 1997 were reviewed.

RESULTS

Strictureplasty was used for short strictures without perforating disease (perforation, abscess, fistula). Long strictures (<20 cm) or perforating disease was treated with resection. During an initial operation, strictureplasty was used on 63 strictures in 18 patients (39%). After a median follow-up of 15 years, there were 3 deaths: 1 from postoperative sepsis, 1 from small-bowel carcinoma, and 1 from bronchogenic carcinoma. Thirty-nine patients required 113 reoperations for jejunoileal recurrence. During 75 of the 113 reoperations (66%), strictureplasty was used on 315 strictures. Only 2 patients experienced the development of short-bowel syndrome and required home parenteral nutrition. At present, 4 patients are symptomatic and require medical treatment. All other patients are asymptomatic and require neither medical treatment nor nutritional support.

CONCLUSIONS

Most patients with diffuse jejunoileal Crohn's disease can be restored to good health with minimal symptoms by surgical treatment that includes strictureplasty.