title: The multidisciplinary health care team in the management of stenosis in Crohn's disease.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Stricture formation is a common complication of Crohn's disease (CD), occurring in approximately one-third of all patients with this condition. Our aim was to summarize the available epidemiology data on strictures in patients with CD, to outline the principal evidence on diagnostic imaging, and to provide an overview of the current knowledge on treatment strategies, including surgical and endoscopic options. Overall, the unifying theme of this narrative review is the multidisciplinary approach in the clinical management of patients with stricturing CD.
  
  
  METHODS
  A Medline search was performed, using "Inflammatory Bowel Disease", "stricture", "Crohn's Disease", "Ulcerative Colitis", "endoscopic balloon dilatation" and "strictureplasty" as keywords. A selection of clinical cohort studies and systematic reviews were reviewed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Strictures in CD are described as either inflammatory or fibrotic. They can occur de novo, at sites of bowel anastomosis or in the ileal pouch. CD-related strictures generally show a poor response to medical therapies, and surgical bowel resection or surgical strictureplasty are often required. Over the last three decades, the potential role of endoscopic balloon dilatation has grown in importance, and nowadays this technique is a valid option, complementary to surgery.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients with stricturing CD require complex clinical management, which benefits from a multidisciplinary approach: gastroenterologists, pediatricians, radiologists, surgeons, specialist nurses, and dieticians are among the health care providers involved in supporting these patients throughout diagnosis, prevention of complications, and treatment.
authors: Department of Women and Children's Health, Paediatric Gastroenterology Unit, Padua University Hospital, Padova, Italy.
authors: Marco
authors: M
authors: Gasparetto
authors: Department of Surgery, Gastroenterology and Oncology, Padua University, Padova, Italy.
authors: Imerio
authors: I
authors: Angriman
authors: Department of Women and Children's Health, Paediatric Gastroenterology Unit, Padua University Hospital, Padova, Italy.
authors: Graziella
authors: G
authors: Guariso
keywords: Crohn’s disease; endoscopic balloon dilatation; multidisciplinary team; stricture; strictureplasty