title: High grade anorectal stricture complicating Crohn's disease: endoscopic treatment using insulated-tip knife.
abstract: Endoscopic treatments have emerged as an alternative to surgery, in the treatment of benign colorectal stricture. Unlike endoscopic balloon dilatation, there is limited data on endoscopic electrocautery incision therapy for benign colorectal stricture, especially with regards to safety and long-term patency. We present a case of a 29-year-old female with Crohn's disease who had difficulty in defecation and passing thin stools. A pelvic magnetic resonance imaging scan, gastrograffin enema, and sigmoidoscopy showed a high-grade anorectal stricture. An endoscopic insulated-tip knife incision was successfully performed to resolve the problem. From our experience, we suggest that endoscopic insulated-tip knife treatment may be a feasible and effective modality for patients with short-segment, very rigid, fibrotic anorectal stricture.
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Chonbuk National University College of Medicine and Hospital, Jeonju, Korea.
authors.forename: Hyung Ku
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Chon
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Chonbuk National University College of Medicine and Hospital, Jeonju, Korea.
authors.forename: Ik Sang
authors.initials: IS
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Chonbuk National University College of Medicine and Hospital, Jeonju, Korea.
authors.forename: Sang Wook
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Chonbuk National University College of Medicine and Hospital, Jeonju, Korea.
authors.forename: Soo Teik
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Lee
keywords: Anorectal stricture; Crohn diseases; Endoscopic insulated-tip knife