About three-quarters to two-thirds of those afflicted with Crohn's disease will have to have surgery at some point in their lives. Crohn's disease can present several complications which make surgery a necessity. The most common complication of Crohn's disease is intestinal blockage from swelling or the presence of scar tissue. It is important to note that surgery is not a cure for Crohn's disease. Surgery may cause the patient to live symptom free for a period up to several years but will likely come back at some point.

Crohn's Disease Surgical Procedures

Surgery for Crohn's disease is most commonly used to correct complications from the disease. Sometimes, surgery is an acceptable option if the patient does not respond to common drug treatments. One type of surgery may include drainage of abscesses or removal of a section of the bowel. The type of surgical procedure depends on the location of the disease in the intestinal tract.

A common type of surgery is called a resection. This is when the surgeon removes the infected portion of the intestine and joins together the two opposite healthy ends. Rejoining the healthy portions of the intestine is called anastomosis. The disease is known to resurface at the point of anastomosis after a period of time. Crohn's disease can affect "patches" of intestine with leaving healthy portions of intestine between the patches. This growth pattern for the disease is what allows resection to be a viable surgical procedure.

An ileostomy is performed when the colon and rectum need to be removed. The small intestine is attached to the stoma after the colon and rectum are removed. A colostomy is a procedure when the rectum is removed and the colon is attached to the stoma. An ileoanal reservoir surgery requires two separate procedures. First, the colon and rectum are removed and a temporary ileostomy is performed. Second, the ileostomy is closed and a portion of the small intestine is used to form a pouch which will hold stool. The pouch is attached to the anus and the rectal muscle is left in place. This allows individuals to maintain control of their bowel movements.