Frequency, pattern, and risk factors of postoperative recurrence of Crohn's disease after resection different from ileo-colonic

Background: The frequency of recurrence in Crohn's disease (CD) patients after curative resection different from the ileo-colonic is undefined. We aimed to assess the frequency, pattern, outcome, and risk factors of postoperative recurrence in CD patients under regular follow-up after anastomosis different from ileo-colonic. Materials and Methods: In a retrospective study, clinical records of 537 CD patients under regular follow-up from January 2001 to August 2007 were reviewed. The outcome after surgery was assessed on the basis of clinical records prospectively recorded. Results: Previous resection was observed in 183 of 537 (34%) patients, including the ileo-colon in 145 (79%) and other gastrointestinal (GI) segments in 38 (21%). Recurrence was detected in 16 of 38 (42%) patients (all symptomatic) including five of 14 (35%) with ileostomy, five of five (100%) with ileo-rectal, three of 11 (27%) with ileo-ileal, one or four (25%) with colorectal, and two of three (33%) with duodenum-jejunal anastomosis. Ileo-colonic resection was reported in 145 of 183 (79%) patients, showing recurrence in 128 (88.3%) and symptomatic in 47 (36.7%) patients. The frequency of recurrence was higher in patients with ileo-colonic resection than in patients with other types of resection (128/145, 88% vs 16/38, 42%, p<0.001). The frequency of symptomatic recurrence was lower in patients with ileo-colonic resection than in those with other resections (47/128, 37% vs 16/16, 100%; p<0.001). Risk factors for recurrence were comparable in the two subgroups (smoke, odds ratio, OR 1.5 vs 1.4; appendectomy, OR 0.32 vs 0.33; familial inflammatory bowel disease, OR 0.43 vs 1.26). Conclusions: Postoperative recurrence is observed in a high proportion of CD patients after resection different from ileo-colon (including ileostomy), although at a lower frequency than observed after ileo-colonic resection.