Clinical impact of colectomy and ileorectal anastomosis in the management of Crohn's disease

We report the outcome of 63 consecutive patients with Crohn9s colitis treated by colectomy and ileorectal anastomosis between 1951-1981. There were no operative deaths. Serious postoperative complications occurred in 10 patients. The mean follow up since colectomy was 9.5 years. At 10 years the cumulative reoperation rate was 48% and the cumulative recurrence rate (based upon operative, radiological, and sigmoidoscopic evidence) was 64%. Ten patients have died during follow up. Two-thirds of the patients still under review have an intact ileorectal anastomosis. These results show that colectomy and ileorectal anastomosis is a useful operation in young patients with chronic ill health, diarrhoea, and anaemia in whom there is minimal anorectal disease. For suitable patients, the operation avoids the morbidity of a permanent stoma, pelvic dissection, and rectal excision. Recurrence developing in the ileum proximal to the anastomosis can often be resected and intestinal continuity preserved, whereas anorectal recurrence usually requires proctectomy.