Terminal ileal stricture in Crohn's disease: treatment using a metallic enteral endoprosthesis.

Abstract

Enteral strictures are a frequent indication for surgery in Crohn's disease. Postoperative complications are increased in patients with poor preoperative nutritional status, which is common in this patient population. We present a 49-year-old female with longstanding Crohn's disease admitted to our Digestive Health Center with four weeks of increasing abdominal symptoms and radiographic evidence of small-bowel obstruction caused by ileal stricture. Given her poor nutritional status, our team elected to pursue metallic enteral stenting as a bridge to surgical resection. Two Wallstents were placed; luminal patency was subsequently confirmed by a fluoroscopic study. The patient tolerated regular diet and was discharged. When seen in follow-up, she remained asymptomatic and wished to defer surgical intervention indefinitely.