Perforation in Crohn's disease of the small bowel.

During a five-year period, three patients with general peritonitis, secondary to perforation of the small bowel in Crohn's disease, were successfully treated by resection and primary anastomosis. During this period, 30 patients presented with small bowel or ileocaecal Crohn's disease. The possibility of perforation should be considered when evaluating the need for surgery in patients with Crohn's disease with symptoms of obstruction.