When to Consider Surgery for Crohn’s Disease

Crohn’s disease causes inflammation in your digestive tract, which can lead to abdominal pain, severe diarrhea, fatigue, weight loss, and malnutrition. It’s chronic and tough to live with, but does that mean you need surgery?

Not usually.

Dr. Darrien Gaston, our experienced specialist at Metropolitan Gastroenterology Consultants in Chicago, Illinois, typically treats Crohn’s with medications and lifestyle changes with excellent results.

However, there are times when surgery might be the best option. 

Why surgery for Crohn’s disease might be necessary

For many people with Crohn’s disease, medication and lifestyle changes are enough to manage symptoms. However, there are situations where these treatments just aren’t sufficient. Surgery becomes an option when complications arise or your symptoms become unmanageable.

Dr. Gaston considers several indicators before recommending surgery for Crohn’s disease:

Severe or persistent symptoms

When your symptoms are severe and persistent despite medication, it might be time to consider surgery. Chronic pain, ongoing diarrhea, and severe fatigue can be debilitating.

Bleeding

Although it’s rare, Crohn’s disease can sometimes cause excessive bleeding in your intestines. If other treatments can’t stop it, you need surgery.

Perforated bowel

A hole or perforation in your intestinal wall allows the contents of your intestines to spill into your abdomen, so Dr. Gaston recommends surgery to repair it. 

Complications like fistulas and strictures

Complications such as fistulas (abnormal connections between organs) and strictures (narrowing of the intestines) are common in Crohn’s disease and usually require surgery.

Abscesses and infections

Abscesses, or pockets of infection, can develop in your abdomen and may need surgical drainage. Recurrent infections are also a sign that your current treatment plan isn’t working.

Types of surgeries for Crohn’s disease

Depending on the severity and location of your disease, Dr. Gaston uses various surgical techniques, such as:

Resection

In a resection, Dr. Gaston removes the damaged portion of your intestine and reconnects the healthy ends. 

Strictureplasty

Strictureplasty widens the narrowed sections of your intestine without removing any part of it. 

Colectomy

In some cases, Dr. Gaston may need to perform a colectomy, which removes the entire colon and creates a stoma for waste to exit your body.

Benefits of Crohn’s disease surgery

While the idea of surgery can be daunting, the benefits usually outweigh the risks.

The good news is that Crohn’s disease surgery could reduce or eliminate your need for medication — so long, side effects.

Some of our patients even report that surgery leads to long-term remission.

If conservative treatments haven’t improved your Crohn’s disease symptoms, surgery may help. Call Metropolitan Gastroenterology Consultants to schedule a consultation with Dr. Gaston to determine your options.