title: Surgical management of Crohn's disease.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Crohn's disease is an inflammatory bowel disease that can affect the entire gastrointestinal tract. It is chronic and incurable, and the mainstay of therapy is medical management with surgical intervention as complications arise. Surgery is required in approximately 70% of patients with Crohn's disease. Because repeat interventions are often needed, these patients may benefit from bowel-sparing techniques and minimally invasive approaches. Various bowel-sparing techniques, including strictureplasty, can be applied to reduce the risk of short-bowel syndrome.
  
  
  METHODS
  A review of the available literature using the PubMed search engine was undertaken to compile data on the surgical treatment of Crohn's disease.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Data support the use of laparoscopy in treating Crohn's disease, although the potential technical challenges in these settings mandate appropriate prerequisite surgical expertise.
authors.affiliation: Division of General and GI Surgery, Colorectal Surgery, Emory University, 1365 Clifton Rd. NE, Suite 3300, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA. virginia.o.shaffer@emory.edu
authors.forename: Virginia Oliva
authors.initials: VO
authors.lastname: Shaffer
authors.forename: Steven D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Wexner
mesh_terms: D018784:Abdominal Abscess / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003251:Constriction, Pathologic / Q000601:surgery; D003424:Crohn Disease / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000069285:Infliximab; D007412:Intestinal Fistula / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D007420:Intestine, Large / Q000601:surgery; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000601:surgery; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000379:methods; D019060:Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000517:prevention & control; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012008:Recurrence; D012086:Reoperation; D012778:Short Bowel Syndrome / Q000517:prevention & control; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D000069285:Infliximab