Strictureplasty for Crohn's disease of small intestine. Present status in Western countries.

The concept of a minimal operation for Crohn's disease, particularly of the small intestine, is based on the rationale that it is impossible to cure Crohn's disease by excision, since it is a panintestinal disease that can eventually occur in any part of the remaining intestine. The surgeon is required to treat only the complications and to conserve as much intestine as possible. In the case of stricture, excision is not necessary if the narrowing can be corrected. Strictureplasty is ideal for short strictures of the small intestine in quiescent disease. The morbidity and mortality of strictureplasties are low in. In spite of leaving the "burnout" disease behind, the recurrent stricture after strictureplasties is comparable to the recurrence after bowel resections. The purpose of strictureplasty is to correct the small bowel obstruction and to preserve the length of the small intestine. It is, however, not intended to replace a small bowel resection.