INTRODUCTION

Definitive management for medically refractory ileocecal Crohn's disease is resection with primary anastomosis. Laparoscopic resection has been demonstrated to be effective in adults. There is a relative paucity of data in the pediatric population. We therefore audited our experience with laparoscopic ileocecectomy in patients with medically refractory ileocecal Crohn's disease to determine its efficacy.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective review of all pediatric patients who underwent laparoscopic ileocecal resection for medically refractory Crohn's disease at a single institution from 2000 to 2009.

RESULTS

Thirty patients aged 10-18 years (mean: 15.3 years) with a mean weight of 50 kg (standard deviation: ± 15.5 kg) underwent laparoscopic ileocecectomy for Crohn's disease. Five of these were performed using a single-incision laparoscopic approach. The indications for surgery were obstruction/stricture (21), pain (10), abscess (3), fistula (3), perforation (2), and bleeding (1). Some patient's had multiple indications. There were a total of five abscesses encountered at operation. Eight patients were on total parenteral nutrition at the time of resection. Twenty-five patients (83.3%) were being treated with steroids at operation. The anastomosis was stapled in 26 patients and hand-sewn in 4. Two patients developed a postoperative abscess, and both of them were taking 20 mg of prednisone daily. One patient developed a small bowel obstruction due to a second Crohn's stricture that manifested itself after the more severe downstream obstruction was relieved with ileocecectomy. Of the 5 patients who underwent a single-incision laparoscopic operation, 3 underwent for obstruction/stricture and 2 for perforation. There were no intraoperative or postoperative complications. The patients were followed up for a maximum of 80.7 months (average: 14.7 months; median: 9.7 months). There were no anastomotic leaks or wound infections.

DISCUSSION

This series demonstrates that laparoscopic ileocecectomy, both single-incision laparoscopic approach and standard laparoscopy, is safe and effective in the setting of medically refractory Crohn's disease in pediatric patients.