Strictureplasty. An alternative in the surgical treatment of Crohn's disease.

A patient with severe, multilevel, partial obstruction of the jejunum and ileum secondary to Crohn's disease successfully underwent strictureplasty of the stenotic areas as described. Intestinal length was fully preserved. Complete healing and patency without fistulization was observed on reexploration seven months later for stenosis of previously unaffected areas (some of which were again successfully treated with strictureplasty ). When resection threatens the patient with extensive loss of small-intestine length, strictureplasty appears to be a viable alternative.