Surgery time for stenosed Crohn's disease: Case report

Introduction and importance: Stricture formation is a well-known Crohn's disease consequence that usually results from recurrent cycles of inflammation and healing and primarily affects the small intestine. Case presentation: In this report, we describe the case of a 35-year-old male with an 18-year history of Crohn's disease complicated by long-kinked ileal stricture who presented with a 3-month history of subacute small intestinal obstruction diagnosed with MR enterography and underwent failed medical treatment. Clinical discussion: The patient, a male showing signs of wasting due to a prolonged subacute small intestinal obstruction, underwent an MR enterography which revealed a 6-cm kinked ileal stricture. Intraoperative observations included a significantly dilated small intestine proximal to the stricture and a collapsed distal small bowel. Following resection, the patient experienced a smooth recovery with marked improvement. Conclusion: When there are clear indications for the surgical resection of a stenosed bowel segment caused by Crohn's disease, it is advisable to proceed with the surgery promptly, with a preference for side-to-side stapled anastomosis.