Emergency surgery for intestinal obstruction revealing ileal Crohn's disease (CD) during pregnancy.

Few data are available regarding emergency surgery for Crohn's disease (CD) during pregnancy. A 22-year -old woman, at 26 weeks of pregnancy, was admitted for premature labour, intestinal obstruction and systemic inflammation. Biology and ultrasonography were not helpful; imaging was completed with a CT scan, which confirmed the mechanical ileal obstruction. The intestinal obstruction worsened and led to emergency surgery. An inflammatory stenosis of the terminal ileum with two fistulas was found. An ileal resection and ileostomy were performed. The pathological analysis of the resected specimen confirmed CD. The postoperative course was uneventful. The delivery of a baby with normal weight and status occurred at term (40 weeks of amenorrhoea). There have been only 10 case reports of intestinal complications revealing CD during pregnancy. The delay in diagnosis and adequate treatment led to significant maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality. This case suggests that intestinal surgery for CD is feasible during pregnancy and may be associated with a favourable outcome for the baby as well as for the mother.