Crohn's Disease

Crohn's Disease is a chronic inflammatory disease which may involve any part of the intestinal tract. It most commonly affects the end of the small intestine and/or the large intestine and may be present in multiple sites of the bowel. Because it is a chronic condition, Crohn's may recur over a lifetime.

What are the symptoms? How is it diagnosed?
Patients may present with abdominal pain, diarrhea, fever, weight loss, and bloating. Diagnosis is made by colonoscopy for disease affecting the colon and small bowel series for disease affecting the small intestine. Biopsies may confirm the diagnosis.

How is it treated?
The initial treatment of Crohn's is usually with medications. Surgery is indicated for patients who develop strictures, fistula (abnormal communication of the intestine with skin or other organs), abscess (infection), perforation, malnutrition, and failure of mediucation. Since Crohns is often recurrent, we try to minimize the amount of intestine removed and also perform an operation called strictureplasty which preserves the intestine. We also have experience surgically treating Crohns via a laparoscopic operation.