Background: Ileocaecal resection for penetrating Crohn's disease is still challenging with a high rate of post-operative morbidity and faecal diversion.
Aim: To report retrospectively the results of pre-operative management for penetrating Crohn's disease focusing on the rate of post-operative major morbidities and need for faecal diversion.
Methods: Between 1997 and 2007, 78 patients with penetrating Crohn's disease underwent a first ileocaecal resection after a pre-operative management consisting in bowel rest, nutritional therapy, intravenous antibiotics, weaning off steroids and immunosuppressors, and drainage of abscesses when appropriate.
Results: Resection was performed for terminal ileitis associated with (n = 41), abscesses (n = 37) or both (n = 5). A pre-operative nutritional therapy was performed in 50 patients (68%) for 23 days (range, 7-69 days) along with a weaning off steroids and immunosuppressors. A diverting stoma was performed for six patients (7.7%). There was no post-operative death. Post-operative complications were classified as minor in 10 patients (12.8%), and major in four patients (5%). Overall, the post-operative course was uneventful in 58 patients (74%).
Conclusion: Pre-operative management for penetrating Crohn's disease allowed ileocaecal resection with low rates of post-operative morbidity and faecal diversion.