Froehlich Florian, Juillerat Pascal, Mottet Christian, Pittet Valérie, Felley Christian, Vader John-Paul, Gonvers Jean-Jacques, Michetti Pierre
Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.
Digestion. 2007;76(2):113-5. doi: 10.1159/000111025. Epub 2008 Feb 7.
Crohn's disease is often complicated by gastrointestinal strictures. Postoperative recurrence at the anastomotic site is common and repeated surgical interventions may be necessary. Medical treatment may relieve active inflammation (see chapter on active luminal disease) but fibrous strictures will not respond to this. Mechanical treatment methods consist of endoscopic balloon dilation, stricturoplasty or surgical resection. Fibrostenotic Crohn's disease does not respond to medical therapy and requires endoscopic or surgical treatment.