Surgery does not cure Crohn’s disease, but it can reduce complications associated with the disease.
According to the United States’ National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, an estimated 60 percent of people with Crohn’s disease have surgery within 20 years of their diagnosis.
When is surgery an option for Crohn’s disease?
Doctors typically prescribe medications and recommend dietary changes to help keep Crohn’s disease flare-ups and symptoms to a minimum.
However, a person can still experience inflammation and other complications, especially if the disease is severe.
Surgery is invasive, so doctors will not usually recommend it unless absolutely necessary. Examples of these instances include if a person has:
- an abscess or pocket of infection
- a fistula
- intestinal bleeding
- intestinal obstructions
- irreversible intestinal damage
- symptoms not reduced by other treatments
Doctors may also use surgery in emergency situations, such as a bowel obstruction. Researchers in one study estimate that 6 to 16 percent of people with Crohn’s who present with acute symptoms require surgery.
Doctors perform Crohn’s disease surgery while a person is under general anesthesia. This means the patient is asleep and will not feel pain during the procedure.
Immediately after the surgery, a person will experience some pain and discomfort.
Sometimes, they will receive nutritional support intravenously, such as total parenteral nutrition or TPN. This is because the bowel needs time to rest and heal after surgery.
After the recovery time, a person will often begin eating again with a liquid or low-fiber diet that is easy to digest. A doctor, dietitian, or both will help the individual make further changes in their diet that may be necessary.
The length of recovery depends upon the surgery type and the person’s overall health before surgery.
The more invasive and lengthy the surgery, the longer the healing time tends to be. A doctor should discuss these considerations, as a person will likely need to make arrangements with work or school and limit their physical activity while they recover.
Surgery for Crohn’s disease does not cure this condition. Instead, it helps a person manage their symptoms and can help prevent potentially life-threatening side effects.
A person will likely experience new areas of inflammation where they did not previously.
Outlook
Crohn’s disease surgery is one way to treat damage from the disease and reduce risks for harmful effects.
A doctor will typically recommend surgery only when it is absolutely necessary. While surgery does not cure Crohn’s disease, it can help reduce the risks of complications, such as severe infections.
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