Short and long-term outcomes of surgery for inflammatory (uncomplicated) ileocecal Crohn's disease: Multicentric retrospective analysis of 211 patients

Background: Surgical management for patients with inflammatory ileocecal Crohn's disease (CD) could be a reasonable alternative to second-line medical treatment. Aim: To assess short and long-term outcomes of patients operated on for inflammatory, ileocecal Crohn's disease. Methods: A retrospective analysis of patients intervened at four referral hospitals during 2012–2021 was performed. Results: 211 patients were included. 43% of patients underwent surgery more than 5 years after diagnosis, and 49% had been exposed to at least one biologic agent preoperatively. 89% were operated by laparoscopy, with 1.6% conversion rate. The median length of the resected bowel was 25 cm (7–92) and three patients (1.43%) received a stoma. Median follow-up was 36 (17–70) months. The endoscopic recurrence-free survival proportion at 24, 48, 72, 96, and 120 months was 56%, 52%, 45%, 38%, and 33%, respectively. The clinical recurrence-free survival proportion at 24, 48, 72, 96, and 120 months was 83%, 79%, 76%, 74%, and 74%, respectively. In multivariate analysis, previous biological treatment (HR=2.01; p = 0.001) was associated with a higher risk of overall recurrence. Conclusion: Surgery in patients with primary inflammatory ileocecal CD is associated with good postoperative outcomes, low postoperative morbidity with reasonable recurrence rates.