Endoscopic and Clinical Recurrences After Laparoscopic or Open Ileocolic Resection in Crohn's Disease

Background: After ileocolic resection in Crohn's disease, studies concerning the influence of the laparoscopic or open approach on clinical and endoscopic recurrences are scarce. Patients and Methods: In a prospective database, we identified all patients operated on between 2004 and 2012 for primary ileocolic resection in Crohn's disease, with at least 6 months of follow-up. The rates of endoscopic recurrence during the first postoperative year and the clinical recurrence at any time during follow-up were measured and compared after the laparoscopic or open approach. Results: Sixty-two patients (mean standard deviation age, 33.5 +/- 12.7 years; 35 females) were operated on through laparoscopy (n = 28) or laparotomy (n = 34). Medical treatment, evolution and phenotype of disease, and postoperative course were comparable in both groups. Mean standard deviation follow-up was 3.5 +/- 1.9 years. Ileocolonoscopy was available in 46 (74.2%) patients. Normal endoscopy or minor recurrence (i0 or i1 grade) was significantly more frequent after laparoscopy (14/24 [58.3%1) versus laparotomy (5/22 [22.7%]) (P=.019). Clinical recurrence was comparable at 1 year (P=.116) and at the end of follow-up (P=.799) after laparoscopy (28.6% and 50%, respectively) or laparotomy (11.8% and 55.9%, respectively). Conclusions: After resection, normal or minor endoscopic lesions (i0 or i1 grade) were more frequent after laparoscopy than after laparotomy. However, clinical recurrence was similar after both techniques.