Laparoscopic Right Hemicolectomy for Crohn's Disease of the Terminal Ileum Utilizing the Mesenteric Excision and Exclusion

Crohn's disease is a chronic inflammatory disease that can affect any part of the gastrointestinal tract. The underlying etiology is still unknown, but it is perceived multifactorial and the effect of environmental and pathophysiological factors on a genetically predisposed individual.

Although the development of new pharmacological agents has revolutionized the management of Crohn's disease, the rates of endoscopic and surgical reoccurrence still remain discouraging. It is estimated that 50% of patients with Crohn's disease will require surgical intervention and the rate of surgical reoccurrence remains as high as 30% at 10 years.

Since most reoccurrences occur near or around the anastomotic site, the type of resection and anastomosis has been extensively reviewed in the past, but no significant differences have been observed. In the later years two new surgical techniques have been developed (extended mesenteric excision and Kono-S anastomosis), and increasing data show that they could potentially reduce the rate of reoccurrence. Both techniques focus on the role of the mesentery on disease reoccurrence. The extended mesenteric excision removes the mesentery and corresponding lymphatics of the affected bowel while the Kono-S anastomosis excludes the mesentery from the overlying wide anastomosis. The combination of the two techniques has been termed "mesenteric excision and exclusion" The primary goal of this study is to assess the safety the mesenteric excision and exclusion for Crohn's diseases disease of the terminal ileum in a central hospital of Greece. All intra and postoperative complications within 30 days will be collected and reviewed.

As secondary goals, the endoscopic, clinical and surgical reoccurrence will be reviewed at 6 months, 2 years and 5 years after the operation.

Inclusion criteria

• Males and females aged >16 years
• Ileocolic disease or disease of the terminal ileum with an indication for resection
• Concurrent therapies with corticosteroids, 5-ASA drugs, thiopurines, MTX, antibiotics, and anti-TNF therapy are permitted.
• All patients should have undergone a colonoscopy and a recent update of imaging (e.g. Ultrasound, MR enterography (or CT enterography if MR is contraindicated))
• Ability to comply with protocol.
• Competent and able to provide written informed consent.

Exclusion criteria

• Inability to give informed consent.
• Patients less than 16 years of age.
• Clinically significant medical conditions within the six months before the operation : e.g. myocardial infarction, active angina, congestive heart failure or other conditions that would, in the opinion of the investigators, compromise the safety of the patient.
• History of cancer < 5 years which might influence patients prognosis
• Emergent operation.
• Pregnant or breast feeding.
• Inability to follow up at 3, 6 and 12 months for postoperative assessment, imaging and endoscopy.