title: Endoprosthetic management of refractory ileocolonic anastomotic strictures after resection for Crohn's disease: report of nine-year follow-up and review of the literature.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The role of endoluminal stenting in benign obstruction, especially for Crohn's disease (CD), is controversial, with limited data and widely disparate outcomes. The purpose of this study was to determine the long-term efficacy and safety of this technology in the treatment of fibrostenotic CD and to review the existing literature on this topic.
  
  
  METHODS
  We undertook a retrospective review of all patients undergoing endoluminal stenting for CD strictures at our institution from 2001 to 2010. Outcome measures included technical success, clinical improvement, duration of stent and luminal patency, and need for re-intervention.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Five patients underwent this procedure with a 100% rate of technical and an 80% rate of clinical success. Mean follow-up was 28 months (range 3 weeks to 109 months) and mean long-term luminal patency was 34.8 months (range 4.5-109 months). There was one complication involving reobstruction which required surgical intervention and no mortalities.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Endoluminal stenting of CD strictures is a safe and effective alternative to surgery which can provide lasting benefit in select patients. Further studies are necessary to clarify the full impact of this technology on long-term management of this complex disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Colon & Rectal Surgery, William Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak, Michigan, USA. rebecca.levine@mssm.edu
authors.forename: Rebecca A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Levine
authors.forename: Harry
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wasvary
authors.forename: Omar
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Kadro
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000714:Anastomosis, Surgical / Q000009:adverse effects; D000818:Animals; D003106:Colon / Q000601:surgery*; D003108:Colonic Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D003251:Constriction, Pathologic / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy; D003424:Crohn Disease / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007077:Ileal Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D007082:Ileum / Q000601:surgery*; D007415:Intestinal Obstruction / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015607:Stents