[Intestinal fistulas in Crohn disease].
BACKGROUND
Only a part of patients suffering from Crohn's disease has enteric fistulae and a different behaviour of Crohn's disease with fistulae is reported in the literature. Aim of this paper is to evaluate if enteric fistulae are a factor conditioning mortality, morbidity and overall postoperative course, in patients with Crohn's disease.


METHODS
Data on the postoperative course of 126 laparotomies for Crohn's disease, performed between November 1993 and July 1998, have been prospectively examined. Moreover, the presence of enteric fistula has been evaluated during surgery.


RESULTS
Out of 126 interventions, in 58 (46%) enteric fistulae were present. Mortality (5.2% vs 0), morbidity (14.5% vs 7.3%), necessity for a temporary ostomy (20.4% vs 3.5%) were greater in those patients with fistula, as compared as those without fistula.


CONCLUSIONS
In conclusion, it is suggested that Crohn's disease with fistulae is a different type of disease, with higher mortality and morbidity rates.
Fronda
G R
GR
Dipartimento Medico Chirurgico, Azienda Ospedaliera S. Giovanni Battista, Torino.
Resegotti
A
A
Astegiano
M
M
Farina
E C
EC
Patelli
E
E
Giustetto
A
A
De Paolis
P
P
D000328:Adult; D003108:Colonic Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D003424:Crohn Disease / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D004378:Duodenal Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007077:Ileal Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D007081:Ileostomy; D007412:Intestinal Fistula / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012810:Sigmoid Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery