Evaluation of surgery for perianal Crohn's fistulas.
OBJECTIVE
This study was designed to evaluate the operative treatments performed on patients with perianal Crohn's disease at a tertiary referral colorectal university hospital and to determine the efficacy of management by assessing patient satisfaction.


METHODS
A retrospective survey included 59 patients with perianal Crohn's disease who had undergone surgery during the period of 1991 to 1993, inclusive.


RESULTS
Twenty-seven patients were treated by laying the fistula open (81 percent successful), and another 27 cases were treated with a loose seton (85 percent successful). Five cases were complicated fistulas and underwent diversionary stomas as part of a primary procedure. Overall success rate, as judged by patient satisfaction, was 83 percent.


CONCLUSIONS
Conservative surgery has a role in management of perianal Crohn's disease. Patient satisfaction can be achieved without complete healing. Better preoperative assessment may improve results further.
Scott
H J
HJ
St Mark's Hospital, Harrow, Middlesex, United Kingdom.
Northover
J M
JM
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003424:Crohn Disease / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012003:Rectal Fistula / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome