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When might surgery be used to treat Crohn disease?
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digestive system disease
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Surgery for Crohn disease is primarily utilized when the disease causes severe complications that cannot be managed with medication. Specifically, surgical intervention is often required when the intestinal wall thickens to the point of causing an obstruction in the digestive tract.12
Additionally, surgery may be necessary to address the formation of fistulasâabnormal passages connecting the bowel to other organsâwhich can lead to the development of abscesses. In such cases, surgeons may perform a resection of the affected portion of the bowel. In more severe instances, the entire colon may need to be removed, requiring the creation of an ileostomy to serve as a substitute for the anus.12