Crohn’s disease

The small bowel is often involved in Crohn’s disease. Mostly the affected bowel segments are short and stenosis of the bowel is a frequent complication. The surgeon will always try to preserve as much bowel as possible by performing a very limited resection or a stricture plasty. In some cases severe fistulas form between bowel loops or through the abdominal wall and may necessitate extensive resections of bowel.

For more information see chapter in large bowel.