Management of postoperative Crohn's disease

Abstract

Three-quarters of the patients with Crohn's disease (CD) require surgery involving a resection in the course of their disease. Even if all macroscopically involved bowel is removed, the disease usually recurs proximal to, and at, the anastomosis. This often leads to the recurrent need for treatment of active disease, complications, and reoperation. Ileocolonoscopy has an important place in the assessment of postoperative Crohn's recurrence. The limited available data regarding drug therapy in the postoperative setting suggest that optimal management should include identification of high-risk patients earlier and more widespread use of immunosuppressive therapy than was previously recommended..