A Warning About the Role of Extended Mesenteric Excision in Crohn's Disease Recurrence

Early and late outcomes of a series of 255 patients with Crohn's disease who underwent resection: 10 years of experience at a single referral center

Patients with Crohn's disease experience an increased risk of postoperative complications and disease recurrence. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of the risk factors in determining these outcomes and whether preoperative removal of some of these risk factors would optimize the results. We conducted a retrospective study analyzing a consecutive series of 255 patients who underwent surgical resection for Crohn's disease between 2010 and 2020. We considered short- and long-term endpoints, such as postoperative complications categorized according to the Clavien–Dindo classification and the appearance of surgical and endoscopic postoperative recurrence. Univariable and multivariable analyses showed that multiple and extensive localizations increased the incidence of postoperative complications (OR = 2.19; 95% CI 1.05–4.5; p = 0.035 and OR = 1.015; 95% CI 1.003–1.028; p = 0.017 for each cm of resected segment, respectively). Regarding theoretically modifiable factors, preoperative hypoalbuminemia (for each g/L reduction) increased the risk of complications with an OR = 1.1; 95% CI 1.02–1.12; p = 0.003. Preoperative steroid therapy exerted a similar effect, with an OR = 2.6; 95% CI 1.1–5.9; p = 0.018. Modifying these last two risk factors by improving the nutritional status or discontinuing steroid therapy significantly reduced complications.

Microscopic positivity of the resection margins was a risk factor for surgical recurrence (OR = 8.7; 95% CI 1.9–40; p = 0.05). Based on the results of the present study, surgeons must examine modifiable risk factors, and careful preoperative tailored management may reduce postoperative complications and disease recurrence.

Surgical Management of Small Bowel Crohn's Disease

Crohn's disease in the small bowel could present itself as an inflammatory stricture, a fibrotic stricture as penetrating disease or a combination of both. It is pertinent to differentiate the disease process as well as its extent to effectively manage the disease. Currently, a combination of medical and surgical therapies forms part of the treatment plan while the debate of which therapy is better continues. In managing the strictures, identification of the disease process through imaging plays a pivotal role as inflammatory strictures respond to anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and biological agents, while fibrotic strictures require endoscopic or surgical intervention. Recent evidence suggests a larger role for surgical excision, particularly in ileocolic disease, while achieving a balance between disease clearance and bowel preservation. Several adaptations to the surgical technique, such as wide mesenteric excision, side to side or Kono-S anastomosis, and long-term metronidazole therapy, are being undertaken even though their absolute benefit is yet to be determined. Penetrating disease requires a broader multidisciplinary approach with a particular focus on nutrition, skincare, and intestinal failure management. The current guidance directs toward early surgical intervention for penetrating disease when feasible. Accurate preoperative imaging, medical management of active diseases, and surgical decision-making based on experience and evidence play a key role in success.

The Role of Active Inflammation and Surgical Therapy in Crohn's Disease Recurrence

An altered balance between effector and regulatory factors is supposed to sustain the tissue-damaging immune response in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Several studies demonstrate that severe active inflammation is a strong predictor for surgical complications and recurrence. Indeed, bowel resection in Crohn's disease (CD) patients has a high surgical recurrence rate. In this review, we examined the IBD inflammatory pathways, the current surgical treatments, and the almost inevitable recurrence. The question that might arise is if the cure of intestinal CD is to be found in the surgical approach. A selective search of two databases (PubMed and the Cochrane Library) has been carried out without considering a specific time horizon as inclusion criteria. The scope of this literature review was investigating on the role of inflammation in the management of CD. The following key words have been used to develop the query string: (i) inflammation; (ii) Crohn's disease; (iii) surgery; and (iv) postsurgical recurrence.